Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 15 Oct 1997

Vol. 481 No. 5

Written Answers - Tourism Programme.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

111 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if he will make a statement on the findings of the mid-term evaluation of the Operational Programme for Tourism, 1994-1999, that many of the projects funded under the Sub-Programme One are not oriented towards international tourism, particularly in view of the fact that the Operational Programme for Tourism objectives are the development of Ireland's overseas tourism; and the steps, if any, he is taking to ensure the relevance of spending under Sub-Programme One in view of these findings. [16699/97]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

I do not accept that projects being funded under Sub-Programme One of the Tourism Operational Programme 1994-99 are insufficiently oriented towards international tourism. In the development of the projects it is an ongoing requirement that the needs of international tourism be a high priority and kept constantly in mind.

The surveys of overseas visitors to Ireland conducted by Bord Fáilte confirm consistently that almost half of all overseas holidaymakers visit places of cultural/historical interest. This confirms the relevance of the projects aided under Sub-Programme One to international tourism. Indeed cultural tourism is fast emerging as one of the main growth areas in the tourist industry world-wide and the projects being assisted under Sub-Programme One of the Tourism OP aim to increase the range and choice of facilities available to the foreign visitor in Ireland.

As the Deputy is aware, I referred in my answer to his Questions Nos. 199, 200 and 201 of yesterday that it is intended to allocate significant funding to international marketing of the tourism product.