The National Development Plan, 2000-2006, has now been published and includes an outline of the Government's proposals for the development of the tourism industry over that period. Under the plan, I have succeeded in obtaining in excess of £350 million specifically for tourism marketing, product development and training over the next seven years.
The plan provides for two regional operational programmes, one for the Border, Midlands and Western Region and one for the Southern and Eastern Region. The £100 million, which I have obtained for development of tourism product, will be delivered under these programmes. These programmes will also include funds under the aegis of other Ministers in areas such as marine leisure, angling and rural tourism, while expenditure in the cultural development and micro-enterprise areas will also support the development of tourism product.
My Department is negotiating with the Department of Finance on the tourism content of these programmes. The programmes will have to be agreed by the regional assemblies and forwarded to Brussels. It will take another few months for Brussels to sign off on the operational programmes. It is possible, that it may be into the autumn before all the relevant structures are put in place.
As the operational programmes are under negotiation, Deputies will understand that I cannot go into too much detail on their possible content. Nevertheless, I have made it plain on more than one occasion that the focus should be on the creation of a small number of strategically located major attractions in areas where such do not already exist, the clustering of existing smaller-scale attractions and the development of special-interest activities, especially those involving a combination of outdoor pursuits such as cycling, walking and horse riding as well as developing activities for disabled visitors.
As the national development plan indicates, the bias of tourism product spend will be towards those areas which are less developed in tourism terms. Strengthening these areas will be part of a strategy to distribute the benefits of tourism more widely.
As far as decision-making structures are concerned, I have proposed a continuation of the independent product management board model – one for each region – which worked well during the lifetime of the last tourism operational programme. However, delivery mechanisms and institutional arrangements for the operational programmes are still under consideration.
There will have to be a thorough awareness and information campaign by the relevant tourism bodies, and I also envisage that there will be competition for the product development funds. Bearing that in mind, it would be unrealistic to expect major product decisions before the end of the year.
As soon as details of the operational programmes are agreed with the regional assemblies and the European Commission, all the regional tourism authorities will be given full details of the type of product eligible for support under the plan and asked to embark on an information and awareness-creating drive in their regions.