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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 16 Nov 2000

Vol. 526 No. 2

Written Answers. - Tourism Promotion.

Michael Creed

Question:

47 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the plans he has to assist family run hotels located in areas outside the major tourist locations to enhance their tourist product and bolster and extend their tourist season. [25985/00]

The overall thrust of the tourism product measures in the regional operational programmes is to create the instruments to help spread the economic benefits of tourism throughout the country. Under the national development plan, I obtained £100 million to support these measures. Additional moneys will also be available under the aegis of the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, for supporting tourism related developments. All these measures are included in the two regional OPs which are expected to be approved shortly by the European Commission.

Over the past two to three years, a general consensus has emerged across consultants, the tourism industry, the tourism development agencies, the EU Commission and my Department on the need to focus future capital investment on the less developed tourism areas. The objective is to develop a number of additional tourism growth poles by utilising the potential of the less developed areas through support for the strengthening of special interest facilities, the upgrading and better presentation of a number of clusters of existing attractions and facilities and, in specific circumstances, for the development of some new major attractions.

The focusing of support on less developed tourism areas and the fostering of a number of new growth poles in those areas should have a significant positive spin-off for hotels in such areas, and on the proven ability of the commercial accommodation sector generally to respond to growth in visitor numbers. Last year I launched a pilot marketing initiative, under which Bord Fáilte had provided a budget of £300,000, targeted primarily at small accommodation providers with a view to increasing business overall, particularly in off-peak seasons and in rural areas. This year Bord Fáilte has continued the initiative with an increased budget of £500,000 and the ambit of the scheme has broadened to include small family run hotels.

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