Vol. 458 No. 3
16 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the lack of growth in tourism in the west of Ireland in comparison with the remainder of the country; the steps, if any, he proposes to take to rectify the imbalance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17033/95]
21 Miss Coughlan asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the plans, if any, he has to ensure that available financial and marketing resources are no longer employed to further exacerbate regional imbalances in tourism growth and incomes. [16876/95]
87 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the plans, if any, he has to ensure that available financial and marketing resources are no longer employed to further exacerbate regional imbalances in tourism growth and incomes. [17041/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 21 and 87 together.
One of the benefits of our vibrant and expanding tourism sector over recent years has been its regional dispersal of economic benefits. Latest available estimates from Bord Fáilte relate to 1994 and continue to show all regions benefiting from tourism growth with 54 per cent total tourism revenue being spent that year in the western, south-western, mid-western and north-western regions. No official figures are yet available on regional distribution this year. Bord Fáilte advises that, while Dublin has benefited from continued growth in the short break holiday market, particularly from the United Kingdom, preliminary indications are that all regions are again benefiting from growth this year. Official estimates will not be available until the first half of 1996.
While promotion of tourism to the regions is primarily a function of the respective regional tourism organisations, the Minister cannot accept that financial and marketing resources under the supervision of his Department have been employed to exacerbate any perceived regional imbalances in tourism growth and incomes.
A positive feature of the Operational Programme for Tourism 1989-1993 was the extent to which it achieved a good regional spread of investment and helped to build the tourism industry across all sub-regions. This is expected to continue under the current operational programme expenditure which is also under the overall supervision of my Department and covers the period 1994-1999. However, ultimately the spread will depend on the public and private sectors within each region bringing forward suitable, quality proposals for co-funding.
In addition to the extensive regional and local publicity measures already undertaken, the regional authorities are kept informed on a regular basis of expenditure under the tourism operational programme in their respective areas. This serves to keep each authority up to date on the opportunities available for the development of tourism in their region and to encourage a steady flow of applications under the programme.
It is surprising and disappointing to note the lack of concern in the Minister's reply at the serious imbalance that has developed in tourism growth, first evident in the 1994 season and repeated in 1995. Is it not true that in both those seasons growth in tourism in Dublin and on the east coast generally was phenomenal and that, in the 1995 season, no growth was shown to have taken place in tourism in the western region? Surely the Minister and his Department, being responsible for the promotion and development of tourism, should analyse the reasons and seek to devise policies to redress that imbalance? Would the Minister of State not agree that access is of primary importance in promoting tourism and that the change in access to the western region, to the benefit of the Dublin region, obviously is having its effect, with the over-flying of Shannon and the lack of direct access from Europe to western airports? Would the Minister address this problem when replying and give some encouragement to those who have made very substantial investments, sometimes life savings, in the tourism industry on the basis of the Government's commitment to it in the west, which appears very weak at present?
As one who represents the south-west region——
I am talking about the west. There is a large airport down there.
I will cover all regions if the Deputy will allow me. While I appreciate his concern about the drift which he incorrectly contends is benefiting the east coast, the hotel bed occupancy figures for 1994 and the 1995 season up to August last do not corroborate with what he is saying. For example, in Dublin, there was a 50 per cent rate of bed occupancy in the year 1994, which grew to 58 per cent this year; in the south-east the rate was 57 per cent which remained static — again contradicting what Deputy Molloy said about the predominant growth being in the east. While I accept that Dublin has become extremely attractive for short-stay visits, the eastern region, stretching from Louth down to Wexford and Waterford, has not reaped disproportionate benefit.
In the south-west region there was a bed occupancy rate of 53 per cent in 1994, with an increase of 1 per cent, to 54 per cent in 1995. In the mid-west region the rate of bed occupany increased from 44 per cent in 1994 to 46 per cent this year.
My question relates to the west only.
I will deal with that region if the Deputy will allow me. There was a 51 per cent bed occupancy rate in the west in 1994. This figure, up to August last, had increased to 53 per cent. These statistics can be proven if the Deputy cares to check them. The north-west is the one region——
What is the Minister of State saying? Is he saying that everything is all right?
I am not saying that. I am giving the Deputy the facts if he will listen.
The one area about which I would be concerned is the north-west where there has been an actual decline. There was a 46 per cent bed occupancy rate last year which reduced at 45 per cent this year, representing a 1 per cent decrease in a region that could well do with more tourism activity. There are reasons for that also. Bearing in mind the ceasefires in the North, I imagine that people who would normally have crossed the Border for a short-stay holiday remained at home. In the midland east area, somewhat different from the east coast and Dublin, there was an increase in the rate of bed occupancy from 40 per cent to 43 per cent, a complete contradiction of what Deputy Molloy contends.
Is the Minister of State familiar with the presentation to the ITIC forum, under the heading "Regional Dimension", which states that the impact of tourism growth at regional level is varied, that higher levels of growth have been experienced on the east coast and Dublin, that additional access capacity has favoured the east coast, that more access to the west of Ireland is needed and that the regional spread of tourism needs to be addressed? It is that to which I am endeavouring to direct the Minister's attention today. There has been a huge investment in tourism in the west in recent years, but because of inadequate access to that region it is not gaining from the current overall national growth in tourism taking place primarily in Dublin and on the east coast.
The Deputy is making a speech.
This is a very important issue for people who have invested their life savings in this industry, who have committed themselves with the banks and elsewhere.
There has also been significant investment in tourism in the Dublin area where recently several hotels have been built and more are under construction. People are bound to be attracted when facilities are available.
The problem is access. I am very disappointed with the response from the Minister.
