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Tourism Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 May 2013

Wednesday, 15 May 2013

Questions (35)

Dessie Ellis

Question:

35. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he has taken to pursue all-island tourism co-operation; his future plans in regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22856/13]

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Written answers

Tourism was specifically identified in the Good Friday Agreement as one of the key areas for North/South cooperation and consequently is one in which the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) meets in Sectoral format. The Council meets to make decisions on common policies and approaches in the area of tourism, including decisions on policies and actions to be implemented by Tourism Ireland Limited, the body responsible for promoting the island of Ireland overseas as a tourist destination.

The most recent NSMC meeting in Tourism Sectoral format took place on 28th November 2012 in Armagh. Amongst the agenda items for this meeting was Tourism Ireland's Draft Business Plan for 2013.  The Council also discussed major tourism initiatives including The Gathering Ireland 2013 and the Derry - Londonderry UK City of Culture 2013, and noted the major role which Tourism Ireland is playing in the overseas promotion of them.  At the meeting, a paper on the Great Britain market was also discussed.

The next NSMC meeting in Tourism Sectoral format is scheduled to take place on 26th June in Armagh.  Amongst the anticipated discussion items will be Tourism Ireland's Annual Report for 2012, a review of the 2013 tourism season to date (including major tourism initiatives North and South) and the tourism prospects for the remainder of 2013 and beyond.

There is also ongoing cooperation between the tourism agencies and Government Departments north and south in a number of other areas including the selection of suitable tourism projects to benefit from Peace/INTERREG funds and in work to harmonise and share tourism statistics north and south. I look forward to this work continuing and to availing of any other suitable opportunities for north/south cooperation in the tourism sector in the future.

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