Vol. 502 No. 2
109 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he has satisfied himself that his Department has sufficient liaison with the tourism and sporting organisations with a view to co-ordination of effort in terms of promotion and achieving maximum impact to achieving strategic objectives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7554/99]
In relation to tourism, liaison with tourism agencies and the industry is a prominent feature of arrangements for the operation of the EU Operational Programme for Tourism 1994-99 and, in particular, the Overseas Tourism Marketing Initiative. Furthermore, my Department is currently consulting with the agencies and industry about its outline strategy for the continued development of tourism in the context of the next round of EU structural funding covering the period 2000-06. The strategy includes a vision for the future, key objectives and targets and a proposed strategic approach in the areas of marketing, training and product. The aim is to develop a shared vision for the future, involving a partnership approach between the Exchequer, the European Union, the state agencies and the private sector which has proved so successful in the context of the two operational programmes to date.
In the area of sport, consultations have taken place between my Department, the executive chairman of the Sports Council and the national governing bodies of sport in the context of their overall development plans and their five year strategic plans for the development of their respective sports.
Apart from such specific consultation processes, my Department liaises with these bodies on an ongoing basis, both formally and informally, on a broad range of issues relating to tourism and sporting policy. In essence, I am satisfied with the level of contact between my Department, its agencies and tourism and sporting organisations.
