Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 October 2021
258. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which the tourism industry is likely to recover over the next 12 months; if she plans to take any further initiatives to stimulate the industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48344/21]
View answer259. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she and her Department have examined the most important features of the tourism industry to which she can offer assistance or encouragement towards recovery in the wake of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48345/21]
View answer260. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she and her Department propose to take specific initiatives to help the recovery of the tourism industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48346/21]
View answer261. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the degree to which her Department has identified a particular need for the tourism sector with specific reference to recovery and restoration of employment to the maximum extent possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48347/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 258 to 261, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy is aware, tourism has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year a Tourism Recovery Taskforce was put in place 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 crisis. The Taskforce, in drawing up its plan, undertook a comprehensive analysis of what was required to help the sector to survive and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. This plan has been more than useful for both my cabinet colleagues and myself in considering measures that can assist the sector.
Measures taken by Government, such as the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme, the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme, together with the sector-specific measures for tourism that I have introduced such as business continuity grants and the lower VAT rate have all been critical in supporting businesses and jobs over the past 18 months.
Recruitment continues to be a significant challenge for the tourism and hospitality sector, with up to two-thirds of businesses reporting reduced capacity due to staff shortages. Fáilte Ireland has been collaborating with industry to help address this issue and have launched #BeThePulse, a new recruitment marketing and awareness campaign to help attract new staff to the industry. Fáilte Ireland continues to promote opportunities and communicate the benefits of working in the industry via their content and social media strategy on tourismcareers.ie.
I appointed a Recovery Oversight Group to oversee the implementation of the Tourism Recovery Plan and they report to me on a regular basis with updates on implementation and the recovery of the sector. This group has recently submitted its third report to me. I will use the report from the Recovery Oversight Group as an important policy consideration as I continue to work, alongside my Government colleagues, to support the tourism sector over the coming year and beyond. I will consider further initiatives to support tourism in the context of Budget 2022.
The global health crisis has had a devastating impact on our tourism sector but it has also provided an opportunity now to address sustainable tourism development in a more meaningful way during the recovery and rebuilding phase following this crisis. In line with our Programme for Government commitments, officials within my Department are taking initial steps towards the development of a new national tourism policy which will mainstream sustainability. The development of this new policy will be informed by the Guiding Principles for Sustainable Tourism Development developed by the Sustainable Tourism Working Group and will be consistent with our sectoral climate change targets and commitments.
It is clear that the traditional model of tourism is changing and the development of this new national tourism policy gives us an opportunity to set out what type of tourism sector we want to 2030 and beyond. Tourism has proven itself resilient before and I am confident that, with the support of Government, it will recover from this crisis and thrive again in a manner which is economically, socially and environmentally sustainable.
