Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 June 2013
1109. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the work of the North South tourism body; if he will provide specific details of the joint initiatives and projects his Department is currently working on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27796/13]
View answerTourism Ireland Limited is the North South body responsible for promoting the Island of Ireland overseas as a tourist destination. The day-to-day work of the Agency is an operational matter for the Agency itself. However, it operates in accordance with decisions on policies and actions taken by the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) meeting in Sectoral format.
The Deputy will be aware that tourism was specifically identified in the Good Friday Agreement as one of the key areas for North/South co-operation.
The most recent NSMC meeting in Tourism Sectoral format took place on 28th November 2012 in Armagh. The agenda items included Tourism Ireland's Draft Business Plan for 2013. The Council also discussed major tourism initiatives including The Gathering Ireland 2013 and Derry-Londonderry UK City of Culture 2013, and noted the major role which Tourism Ireland is playing in their overseas promotion. At the meeting, a paper on the Great Britain market was also discussed.
The next NSMC meeting in Tourism Sectoral format will take place on 26th June 2013 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 co-operation 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, work to harmonise and share tourism statistics north and south and specific initiatives by the agencies in relation to major events such as the Giro d'Italia. I look forward to this work continuing and to availing of any other beneficial opportunities for north/south cooperation in the tourism sector in the future.
