Vol. 482 No. 1
44 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the level of public expenditure during 1997 on the overseas marketing initiative; and his views on whether the expenditure is adequate in view of the return from this initiative. [17283/97]
67 Mrs. Barnes asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation his views on whether the funding of the joint marketing campaign being undertaken by Bord Fáilte and the Northern Ireland Tourist Boards is adequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17172/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 67 together.
The Deputies will already be aware that the Overseas Tourism Marketing Initiative (OTMI) is an industry led initiative which represents a joint venture between tourism interests, North and South, whose priority objective is to promote Ireland in the US, British, French and German markets. The initiative is funded from a variety of sources including the Exchequer, the European Regional Development Fund, Northern Ireland and tourism industry investors, who will all together in 1997, invest in the region of £6.8 million in overseas marketing programmes in these markets.
Government support this year amounts to £4.15 million which includes direct Exchequer funding of £1.04 million and a matching £3.11 million which is recovered from the EU under the Operational Programme for Tourism, 1994-99. I am satisfied that, given the resources which are in place, the OTMI will make an important contribution to national tourism growth this year.
