Written Answers. - Environmentally Sustainable Tourism.
David Stanton
Question:
326
Mr. Stanton
asked the
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation
the plans he has to develop environmentally sustainable tourism; if he will give examples of achievements in this area to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6841/01]
One of the commitments made in November 1999 review of the action programme for the millennium was to "maintain substantial investment in the development of environmentally sustainable tourism products which promote year-round tourism."
Under the national development plan 2000/06, I secured over £350 million for the development of tourism. Investment will be focused on developing environmentally sustainable tourism products while also encouraging off-peak and niche tourism. These moneys will be spread across a number of operational programmes (OPs), such as the productive sector OP (£150 million for tourism marketing), employment and human resources development OP (just over £100m. for tourism training) and regional OPs for the BMW and SE regions (£100 million in total for product development).
On the marketing side, the focus will be to facilitate the creation of a marketing strategy that can spread visitor numbers over time and help generate better regional spread thereby helping to reduce environmental pressures resulting from seasonal and regional over-concentration of tourism. On the tourism product side, environmental sustainability will be one of the key selection criteria. Before being approved for grant aid, applicants will be required to demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the independent product management board, that statutory planning and environmental requirements are adhered to, and the environmental sustainability of the project, having regard to best practice in relation to environmental protection.
The overall objective of the tourism product investment scheme is to develop the tourism product in a sustainable way that widens the spatial spread of tourism, diverts pressure from highly developed areas and increases the under-performing regions share of overseas tourism revenue. The scheme will include a specific measure to promote the better management of the relationship between tourism and the environment, with a particular focus on the implementation of integrated tourism management plans in established tourism areas.
In terms of achievements in this area to date, I would point to one of the key objectives of the operational programme for tourism 1994-99, to achieve more new growth outside the peak July and August period; and to the fact that the percentage of overseas tourists to Ireland during the peak period dropped from 30% in 1993 to under 27% in 1999, while the percentage of those who visited during the off-peak period increased from 40% to 43%, over the same timescale.
While lead responsibility for environmental matters rests with the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, I launched the special pilot scheme on tourism and the environment in 1998. The objective of the pilot was to generate practical projects that addressed issues where tourism and the environment interface.
From a total of 120 applications, 22 projects were approved, covering issues such as visitor and traffic management, training and awareness raising, area based tourism plans, carrying capacity analyses and innovative litter control actions. The projects have all now been completed. The pilot initiative addressed immediate problems in some existing key tourism pressure points and achieved practical results. It also encouraged innovative thinking in relation to managing the tourism environment and provided useful learning points that have mainstream potential. Following completion and evaluation of the pilot initiative, I have made it clear to the local authorities that, in my view, lead responsibility for mainstreaming the lessons learned rests with them. Environment is at the heart of our attraction as a tourist destination. Our reputation for unspoilt beauty is an important appeal in the international tourism market and the onus is on us to ensure that future investment is concentrated in environmentally and financially sustainable tourism products.
