Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 November 2012
753. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he has examined the potential of the tourism industry to play a major part in economic recovery; if any change of policy or direction is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53076/12]
View answerTourism is central to the Government’s strategy for economic recovery and jobs and has been integrated into the broader economic strategic framework. This overall strategic approach is complemented by the work of the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, assisted by the work of the industry-led Tourism Recovery Taskforce.
Key commitments in the 2011 Programme for Government were reflected in the Government’s subsequent Jobs Initiative, with immediate priority actions set out in the 2012 Action Plan for Jobs. The Government has already delivered on several measures under the Jobs Initiative to reduce costs and enhance competitiveness, such as reducing VAT to 9% on a range of tourism services and halving employers’ PRSI for those on modest wages.
Following on from the Jobs Initiative, the 2012 Action Plan for Jobs set out key policy actions to ensure tourism’s continued contribution to economic recovery, building further on the Programme for Government. These include supporting the competitiveness of Irish tourism, through minimising the costs of doing business and ensuring the quality of the product is maintained; targeting capital investment in public tourism product and infrastructure; and using the Tourism Marketing Fund to support international marketing and advertising programmes.
The existing strategic approach has kept tourism and economic concerns at the heart if Government decisions. Using The Gathering Ireland 2013 as our centrepiece for 2013 and through continued collaboration between Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland and the Irish tourist industry, I am confident that we can grow business for the tourism sector over the coming years and make a key contribution to Ireland’s overall economic recovery.
