Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 February 2021
241. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department has undertaken a comprehensive review of Ireland’s tourism product to identify strengths, gaps and opportunities as recommended by the tourism recovery task force; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5698/21]
View answerLast year, a Tourism Recovery Taskforce was appointed to prepare a Tourism Recovery Plan with recommendations on how best the Irish Tourism sector can adapt and recover in a changed tourism environment as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. The Taskforce presented its Tourism Recovery Plan 2020-2023 to me on 30th September last. The Plan produced by the Taskforce was a very useful and important consideration for myself and my colleagues in Government in our deliberations for Budget 2021 and this continues to be the case as we evaluate the evolving situation.
The Recovery Plan makes a number of recommendations with the priority recommendations relating to the survival of the sector. The measures I have introduced to date, along with the horizontal measures introduced by Government, have been critical in assisting tourism businesses to survive the hugely challenging situation brought about by the pandemic.
There are also a number of recommendations aimed at the Stabilisation and Recovery phase in the Recovery Plan. These include undertaking a comprehensive review of Ireland's tourism product to identify strengths, gaps, opportunities and impediments to inform future investment in the development of the visitor offering. Our success prior to the pandemic demonstrates that Ireland already has a strong tourism product offering. Furthermore, in funding the development of new and enhanced tourism product, Fáilte Ireland uses an evidence-based approach which considers existing strengths, opportunities and gaps in that product offering.
The Recovery Oversight Group I appointed in December will keep me apprised of progress on the implementation of the Recovery Plan and the recovery of the sector. I, along with my colleagues in Government, will keep the recommendations in the Plan under review as we emerge from the survival phase and move towards stabilisation and recovery. Notwithstanding this, a tourism product review of the type recommended in the Recovery Plan is something which my officials will discuss with the agency with a view to considering its merits and timing.
