Vol. 475 No. 8
23 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade his views on whether the thrust of Government policy is on quantity and not quality within the Irish tourism industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5995/97]
31 Mr. Doherty asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if it is his policy to discourage mass tourism in Ireland; and if so, the way in which he proposes to achieve this. [6040/97]
31 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the plans, if any, he has to review the number of persons visiting areas of natural or archaeological interest in view of concerns that high concentrations of visitors at particular times can place unsustainable pressure on the infrastructure and the environment of some areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6011/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 23, 31 and 37 together.
The Government's policy on tourism development takes full account of the value of the image of Ireland's clean, green environment and the consequent need to protect it. The ambitious growth targets set for the tourism sector relate to growth in overseas revenue and job creation and emphasise the need to develop a sustainable industry concentration on a quality product. The strategy of increasing tourism revenue yield is an integral element of the "Tourism Brand Ireland" campaign launched by Bord Fáilte late last year.
The operational programme for tourism, 1994-99, acknowledges that a balance must be struck between tourism development and preservation of the environment. Measures to achieve this objective, as set out in the programme, include improving the seasonality profile of Irish tourism. The aim is that by 1999, 75 per cent of visitors will arrive in Ireland outside the peak July-August period compared with about 70 per cent at present; attracting high yield business. Priority is given to marketing conference and incentive business and other quality niche and activity markets such as cruising, golf, equestrian, shoppers and users of paid services such as accommodation and car hire; where possible having existing product investment rather than creating new developments; a wide geographical dispersal to minimise capacity problems; capital projects recommended for assistance under the programme are required to comply with all environmental regulatory requirements as a condition for grant approval and support for overseas marketing under the programme is weighted towards projects that aim to extend the season; and progress on the consistency between tourism developments and the principle of sustainability will continue to be monitored as part of the programme.
Statutory responsibility for environmental protection and the management of environmental problems generally rests with the Minister for the Environment while the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht has certain statutory responsibilities in relation to the protection of heritage areas. I understand that the heritage services — national parks and wildlife service and national monuments and historic properties services — of the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht operate an ongoing review of the impact of visitors on heritage sites in order that suitable control and management procedures are exercised and applied as necessary. Similarly, the national monuments and historic properties service aims to keep visiting levels at each heritage property to the optimum number of visitors consistent with site protection and presentation and to manage such properties accordingly.
