Vol. 509 No. 2
71 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation his views on the implications for tourism of the introduction of any tourism tax at a local or national level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19922/99]
During my consultations with the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation on the future of Irish tourism, we were agreed on the importance of adequate provision for investment in international tourism marketing for the year 2000 and beyond. The Deputy will recall from my replies to a related Question No. 2 on 11 March 1999, Question No. 19 on 6 May 1999, and Questions Nos. 25, 40 and 46 on 16 June 1999 that the possibility of introducing a modest visitor levy, in line with practice in many other EU countries, was just one of the funding options for tourism marketing under consideration.
My Department has presented a strong case for continued EU and Exchequer funding for tourism marketing under the National Development Plan 2000-2006. With the industry we have made a compelling case for continued investment for what will soon become our largest economic sector and I am confident of a favourable outcome in this regard. Such a favourable outcome should obviate the need for considering other options such as a national visitor levy while local taxes are a matter, in the first instance, for my colleague, the Minister for the Environment and Local Government.
