Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 January 2022
96. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her strategy to ensure that environmental sustainability will be a core component of the recovery of the tourism sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2496/22]
View answer143. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will outline the strategy to support sustainable tourism; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2495/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 143 together.
The COVID-19 crisis has left our tourism sector in a much weakened state but it has also provided an opportunity to address sustainable tourism development in a more meaningful way during the recovery and rebuilding phase following the crisis. There is also a need to look even further, beyond the challenges that have been brought upon by the impact of the pandemic, to ensure a long term shift towards a more sustainable tourism ecosystem.
Late last year I brought a report to Government, developed by the Sustainable Tourism Working Group under the aegis of my Department, which identifies a suite of actions that will promote sustainable tourism practices ahead of the development of a new national tourism policy. The successful implementation of the actions in this interim action plan will ensure that sustainability is taken into account in policy development, business planning by the tourism agencies and industry as well as in destination management and promotional activity.
In Budget 2022, I secured a record level of funding for tourism. This funding will support measures to help address short-term survival-related concerns and also enable recovery across the tourism sector as we reopen to international tourism and begin to transition to a more sustainable future. In addition this funding will also allow the tourism agencies to deliver on their commitments in the sustainable tourism interim action plan.
For example, this year Fáilte Ireland will develop and roll out a suite of supports and workshops to help tourism businesses to implement sustainability best practice and use the benefits of sustainability for their business. Fáilte Ireland will also initiate the development of carbon calculators which will allow tourists and tourism businesses to evaluate the impact of their carbon footprint on the environment. Tourism Ireland will create new sales and marketing opportunities for those sustainable tourism businesses that want to grow their international business. Measures such as these will shine a light on areas and destinations at home that are striving to be best in class in terms of sustainability and provide better access to information and tools for the tourism industry and visitors to practice responsible tourism.
In line with our Programme for Government commitments, officials within my Department have taken initial steps towards the development of a new national tourism policy which will mainstream sustainability. It is clear that the traditional model of tourism is changing and the development of this new policy will set out a path for the coming years and beyond which will support a sustainable recovery, not only from an environmental but also social and economic viewpoints.
To successfully deliver on sustainable tourism we need to provide high quality environments and experiences which drive improved visitor satisfaction levels with a greater regional spread of tourism visitation and value. I look forward to this transition for the tourism industry and for our destinations with better access to information and tools for visitors to practice responsible tourism.
