Tony Killeen
Question:97 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the progress, if any, which has been made in promoting domestic tourism following the meeting of the Tourism Council in Ballin-tubber, County Mayo. [2698/97]
Written Answers. - Domestic Tourism Marketing.
The Minister of State's domestic tourism marketing initiative continues to provide an added boost to the tourism business in the off-season. Over last year and this year £1 million has been allocated to this campaign. In 1996 the domestic tourism market was worth about £600 million. For the 1997 season the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, will shortly be announcing a multi-media promotional campaign co-funded by the industry to boost home holidays in the shoulder and low season.
At the last Tourism Council meeting in Ballin-tubber Abbey, County Mayo on 11 October 1996 a progress report was presented to the council on a proposed national music festival, as a further response to the seasonality problem in tourism. I officially launched the festival — entitled the Celtic Flame Festival — on 15 January. This initiative which is also in receipt of sponsorship from the private sector constitutes an important new music festival which will benefit a number of regional locations. It will help to address the seasonality problem by generating tourism into the country in the late February and early March period and will dovetail with the St. Patrick's Day festivities in Dublin.
The Celtic Flame Festival will feature high-profile artists capable of attracting visitors to the four main venues identified by the Tourism Council — Galway, Cork, Limerick and Dublin. Visitors from Britain and Northern Ireland identify this country with the best in contemporary and traditional music and I am confident that the festival will be a strong motivator in attracting holidaymakers and those interested in short breaks. It will also, of course, be of interest to Irish people and will help boost domestic tourism, especially to the regions.