Bernard Allen
Question:24 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the proposals, if any, he has to achieve a better spatial distribution of tourists. [24260/99]
Priority Questions. - Tourism Industry.
Since becoming Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, one of my top priorities has been to facilitate a more balanced seasonal and regional spread of tourism revenues. The recently published national development plan has, as one its core objectives, the fostering of balanced regional development. This has particular relevance to the tourism sector which will receive, under the plan, in excess of £350 million for tourism marketing, product development and training over the next seven years.
During this period, the strategy for tourism product development will be based on the needs of areas, having regard to whether they are developed, developing or undeveloped. One of the main priorities for funding will be to support sustainable proposals to build up an interesting mix of tourism products or, as has been pointed out, regional "clusters" of attractions and facilities in prioritised developing or still undeveloped areas.
The key marketing objectives in tourism over the next seven years, under the national development plan, are to increase tourism revenue and per diem visitor yield and to help industry achieve a wider seasonal and regional distribution of tourist revenue, thereby contributing to sustainable development goals.
The regional marketing objectives can be partially fulfilled by Bord Fáilte through destination promotion and will be supplemented by specific measures that can provide leverage in attracting visitors to specific regions, for example, encouragement and support for special niche products which benefit particular areas.
Growth in tourism over the past ten years has been unprecedented, with visitor numbers to Ireland doubling to 5.7 million and foreign exchange earnings tripling to £2.3 billion. It is important to recognise that all regions have shared in this growth. However, there has been some variation in performance in particular due to international industry trends such as the growth in short breaks and urban tourism.
Ultimately, it is the prerogative of the visitor to determine where he or she spends a holiday. Many factors influence such decisions. However, I am satisfied that tourism policies, which fall under my responsibility, have not contributed to an imbalance in the spatial distribution of visitors.
Does the Minister agree that 25 per cent of all visitors in 1998 stayed in the greater Dublin area and that this indicates overcrowding? Does he also agree that while Dublin has enjoyed double digit growth in recent years, the performance in other parts of the country has been poor to patchy? The Minister used the words, "the prerogrative of the visitor". Does he agree that the visitor has little choice when it takes between four and five hours to travel to Sligo or Kerry by train? Is there co-ordination of the efforts of the Department and others to ensure tourists visit the regions? I tabled a question on access to the regions but the Minister claimed that he had no responsibility in the matter.
The Deputy cannot refer to a question which has been disallowed.
Access to the regions is the key to spatial distribution.
The Deputy is now making a statement.
An enormous number of visitors have been magnetised to the east coast, Dublin in particular. We are all Irish and Dublin is our capital city. We have all benefited enormously from the destination marketing in which we have engaged. The Deputy is correct, access is a key factor. One cannot go abroad however and tell a tourist where they should stay. It is up to him or her—
They should be encouraged.
We have been doing so successfully. Short breaks have been a feature of the market in recent years. Many now take a weekend break in Dublin. As the Deputy is well aware cities such as Paris, Rome, Berlin and Dusseldorf have become very congested with the result that many would prefer to visit the regions where they can be alone. They must first be targeted. Ireland can become what I call the antidote to European stress. While I agree with the Deputy that lack of access is a problem, sometimes we are inclined to talk it up too much. I recall that in trying to attract industry to the Border counties we always had the poor hand saying, "We have nothing, please come".
They have plenty; what they need are tourists.
The problem is that after a while we tend to be believed and we do ourselves a disservice by continuing to talk about it. Major emphasis is placed in the national development plan on infrastructural improvements which should result in improved access. When the first national development plan was introduced we were broke while the emphasis in the second was on employment.
Tourist operators are looking for a fair break.