Vol. 513 No. 5
7 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the additional investment, if any, he will provide to ensure the development of environmentally sustainable tourism products which promote year round tourism in view of the commitment given in the review of An Action Programme for the Millennium; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2750/00]
One of the commitments made in the review of An Action Programme for the Millennium of November 1999 is to "maintain substantial investment in the development of environmentally sustainable tourism products which promote year round tourism." Under the national development plan I have secured over £350 million for the development of tourism under three headings, marketing, training and product development. The thrust of tourism investment under the plan will be in line with the commitment given in the review of the action programme and will be influenced by environmental considerations.
On the marketing side, my focus will be to facilitate the creation of a marketing strategy which can spread visitor numbers over time and help generate better regional spread, thereby helping to reduce pressures resulting from unnecessary over-concentration in time and place of tourism in individual localities.
Seasonality has long been a structural weakness of the tourism industry. A key objective of the Operational Programme for Tourism, 1994-99, was to target additional growth outside the peak July-August period. As a result, the percentage of annual overseas tourists to Ireland during the peak period has dropped from 30% in 1993 to under 28% in 1998, while the percentage who visited during the off-peak period increased from 40% to 42.6% in the same period.
A total of £100 million has been provided over the seven year period of the national development plan for the development of tourism product in the two regions under these programmes. The regional assemblies are the managing authorities for the regional operational programmes. The Department of Finance, with the agreement of the regional assemblies, has commenced work on drafting the regional operational programmes on their behalf until the secretariats to the assemblies are fully in place. It is anticipated that the regional operational programmes will be finalised in the first quarter of 2000.
Additional information.My Department is currently working on proposals in relation to tourism product measures for input into this process. The Deputy will appreciate, therefore, that it is not possible at this stage to give details of these measures which will focus on three main areas: developing major tourist attractions and clusters of attractions and facilities in co-operation with local authorities, regional tourism authorities and other agencies; developing special interest products with the aim of increasing the region's share of expanding niche markets such as walking, cycling, riding trails, health, tourism etc; and providing support for tourism and the environment with a particular focus on tackling those problems which threaten the sustainability of tourism.
I assure the Deputy that investment in tourism marketing, training and product measures under the new national development plan will be focused on developing environmentally sustainable tourism products while also encouraging off-peak and niche tourism.
I thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply but when will we see something happening? What discussions has the Minister held with other Ministers? For example, has he spoken to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development concerning issues such as over-grazing, or with the Minister for the Environment and Local Government concerning litter and other environmental matters which would help to improve our environmental tourism product and the admirable aspiration of reducing the seasonality factor?
The operational programmes are currently being discussed. Those programmes will perhaps be able to be finalised in the coming months. However, when one is planning for six or seven years, it takes a certain period for local authority officials and public representatives to join together with proper plans, particularly in the areas of tourism where there is such a wide variety of sectoral interests. There is an overlap with agri-tourism although, in the past they have mostly operated under individual programmes such as the Leader programme which dealt with agri-tourism. In the national plan there is a movement towards people in agricultural and farming areas beginning to use the potential of tourism. There is great potential for tourism in the future across all sectors. Litter is unquestionably one of our biggest problems and if we look at our major cities and towns, we have to tell ourselves that we have a great deal to learn.
Particularly in the light of threats posed by the emergence of new and aggressive competitors, products similar to those traditionally emphasised by Ireland are being heavily promoted, particularly by Scotland and elsewhere. We have great competition in this market now and to be ahead, we should be marketing ahead.
Does the Deputy have a question? He is making a statement.
Has the Minister any immediate plans to spend the £350 million in the peripheral regions which have suffered the most?
With regard to the marketing, I agree with the Deputy that we are entering a hugely competitive area not alone competing with our neighbours in Scotland but further afield, with, for instance, people in the Far East. One of our largest competitors will be China, when one considers the number of infrastructural products which some of the major hotels are putting into that part of the world. The sum of £350 million is broken up into three sections, one is for products, one for training and one for marketing. The marketing element, which we will also discuss when the new North-South company is formed, will be a matter for discussion between ourselves and the company. That £150 million is for marketing the country as a whole. I agree with the Deputy that we have to look after the regions. I put the regions at the top of my policies since I came to office. Certain sectors, particularly along the West of Ireland, are not doing well. Nonetheless, all regions have benefited substantially, even the worst region of the north-west which has an average growth of 5%, has even more than many countries in Europe. I agree there is a problem.
