Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 May 2022
8. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps she is taking to promote slow tourism through sail-rail-trail sustainable tourism offerings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21879/22]
View answerThis question is related to the previous one in many ways. It relates to sustainable and slow tourism. The Dubliners may have sung "Thank God We're Surrounded By Water" but certainly in terms of transport or tourism, being an island nation makes it more difficult for people to arrive here in a sustainable way. What steps are being taken to promote slow tourism through sail-rail-trail sustainable tourism offerings?
In autumn 2021, the Minister brought to Government a report developed by the sustainable tourism working group, which was established under the aegis of the Department. The report 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 these actions will shine a light on areas and destinations that are striving to be best in class in terms of sustainability and will provide better access to information and tools for the tourism industry and visitors to practise responsible tourism.
On foot of the suite of actions set out in an interim action plan, Fáilte Ireland will this year work with the National Transport Authority, NTA, to give appropriate consideration to linkages to ferry ports and the rail network when considering new walking trail developments and extensions to existing trails. Fáilte Ireland will also carry out a feasibility study on the infrastructure required to be able to travel and tour Ireland's experience regions by sustainable modes of transport. From a promotional perspective, Tourism Ireland will tailor our marketing programmes to focus on sustainable tourism product and work towards the longer-term goal of ensuring that we are successfully marketed as a sustainable tourism destination.
Fáilte Ireland is also involved in the development of walking, cycling and water-based trails with the tourism agency either developing best practice guidelines or supporting the Sport Ireland guidelines for trail development - all aimed at supporting trail developers, tourism businesses and local communities to harness the economic opportunities of such trails. With regard to access to the countryside, this is being addressed as part of the development of the new national outdoor recreation strategy under the remit of the Minister for Rural and Community Development.
Tourism Ireland continues to work with all ferry companies serving Ireland to promote attractive fares and to highlight travelling here by ferry. In 2022, Tourism Ireland is investing €594,000 in co-operative activity to promote ferry travel to Ireland. My Department has initiated the development of a new national tourism policy that will mainstream sustainability. This new policy will be informed by and build upon the work undertaken by the sustainable tourism working group and will promote sustainable development and management within the tourism ecosystem.
I am understandably biased but I will say that Waterford again leads the way in terms of sustainable travel.
We know for a fact that the success of the Waterford greenway has shown how good a value proposition this type of tourism is. The marketing department of Fáilte Ireland can have the following for free. I want people to see the greenway as the green way. I want tourists to be able to arrive into Rosslare Europort, step onto a train to bring them to Waterford city, unload their bicycles and go from there. That way, they can enjoy Waterford city, head to Kilmacthomas and on to Dungarvan. Hopefully, as we begin to develop the national cycling network, they will be able to go on to many of the peripheral towns throughout County Waterford. I believe, however, that we have to improve the foot passenger experience in particular, not just in Rosslare, but also in Dublin, in order that the journeys of passengers who arrive with a bike or just as foot passengers through the port and onto public transport are seamless and much more pleasant and enjoyable.
As I referenced in my initial answer, there is significant work ongoing to market this and particularly to encourage the arrival of tourists to Ireland through ferry companies. That is why €594,000 is being used to promote ferry travel to Ireland. The Deputy referenced Rosslare Europort being so close to Waterford, and the huge sustainable progress that was made there in the tourism offering. I will bring the Deputy's feedback on the necessity to link that particular marketing experience with what should visually appear as people arrive in Rosslare to both Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland.
Rosslare Europort has been a real success story over the last number of years in its freight response to things like Brexit, for example, and in terms of the passenger numbers that are arriving. People are increasingly choosing to travel by ferry. There might be a range of reasons for that. It might be that they get to bring their car. There are also a certain number of people who are choosing to fly less and use other modes of transport to arrive at their tourist destinations. However, not every service that is coming in and out of Rosslare Europort offers that foot passenger option. For example, I know that one of the routes goes to Bilbao. I would very much like to go on that ferry journey. I do not particularly want to have my car with me when I arrive there. I find having my car in Europe only adds to my stress, rather than anything else, with driving on the wrong side of the road etc. We really need to focus on that offering. We must ensure that when people arrive as foot passengers, it is a nicer place to arrive into. We must ensure that there is a seamless transport option for foot passengers to take them to the places in the country that they want to visit.
I want to support my colleague's call to develop the sail, rail and trail opportunity that Ireland has. I think it is a very significant opportunity for the whole of the country. There is a vision where we can link Rosslare to Waterford, through Tipperary and into Limerick. Some very good work is being done. The launch of the national greenway network yesterday was very positive. In time, we will see slow travel being embraced. Visitors will come from France and Germany, and northern and southern Europe. They will travel by ferry to the ports, particularly on our east coast. They will spend a week or two cycling round the country. We need to advance this as quickly as possible. I look forward to the draft of the sustainable tourism policy that is coming out. I encourage the Minister of State to engage with communities and stakeholders across the country to ensure that we have the best policy. I think it is a fantastic opportunity for all of Ireland. I welcome the Minister of State's comments.
I thank Deputies Ó Cathasaigh and Leddin for their points. I think everyone would support the development of a sail, rail and trail offering to link the regions. That is why the development of a national tourism policy will seek to mainstream sustainability. The development of the new policy will involve extensive consultation with the tourism industry, as well as our communities, to help set out a path for the coming years which will support a sustainable recovery and subsequent growth in the sector. Following the completion of an initial informal consultation and a review of the previous policy, People, Place and Policy, a formal consultation will take place with a view to publishing a new sustainable tourism policy in 2023. There will be plenty of opportunities for engagement over the coming months. I thank the Deputies for their comments.
