Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 2 Feb 2000

Vol. 513 No. 4

Written Answers. - Tourism Industry.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

221 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he will make a statement on results from the bed and breakfast sector in 1999; the number of registered bed and breakfast establishments; the number of unregistered bed and breakfast establishments; the proposals, if any, he has for the future development of this sector of the tourism industry; the plans, if any, he has to introduce commercial rates on registered bed and breakfasts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2714/00]

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Dr. McDaid)

Indications are that there has been a general increase in business in the bed and breakfast sector over the past season. Both Town and Country Homes and Irish Farmhouse Holidays, two of the bed and breakfast sector representative bodies, report that their members generally had increased business in 1999, particularly at the back end of the year. Statistics from the survey of overseas travellers also show a small increase in the proportion of visitors using bed and breakfast-guesthouses for January to September 1999 compared to the corresponding period the previous year.

Under section 9 of the Tourist Traffic Act, 1957, Bord Fáilte is empowered to publish or cause to be published lists of tourism accommodation premises, including bed and breakfast operations which are not registered and are therefore not protected titles under the Tourist Traffic Acts. Consequently the system by which bed and breakfast accommodation is listed is a voluntary one and operators who do not wish to be listed by Bord Fáilte are not prohibited from carrying on their business. However, statutory requirements in areas such as taxation, planning, fire and safety and hygiene, apply to providers of tourist accommodation, whether listed or unlisted. At present, there are some 4,300 operations which are listed in accordance with the criteria set by Bord Fáilte.

Operators, who are listed, experience a number of advantages such as access to official marketing through Bord Fáilte, the Gulliver reservations service and the tourist information office network. They may also participate at trade and consumer fairs, in advertising, in off-season promotions with tour operators, in trade education programmes, direct mail campaigns and publicity etc.

I launched a new initiative during 1999 which was targeted primarily at the small listed accommodation provider under which Bord Fáilte is reviewing the branding and overseas marketing of the various groups in this category.

Progress has already been achieved with trade and consumer market research being undertaken, and the development of a draft marketing plan. The plan highlighted those markets with the potential to best help achieve the objectives of increasing business overall, growth in off-peak business and a better performance in rural areas.

A series of workshops was launched in November last to provide a forum in which bed and breakfast operators could focus on the need for them to play a more active role in promoting their own premises and their sector. These workshops are set to continue until at least April of this year. In addition, marketing seminars are being run to provide the industry associations with assistance and advice on more advanced marketing issues.

I am confident that this initiative will considerably expand the range of assistance and advice offered to the sector, thereby making listing a more attractive proposition. Resources totalling £300,000 were set aside by Bord Fáilte to support this initiative in 1999, with a further £500,000 being allocated this year to consolidate the initiative and further expand it to other small accommodation providers.

Furthermore, Bord Fáilte recently published new criteria for the bed and breakfast sector. The revised criteria were agreed with the main representative bodies of the sector, which are hopeful that the new criteria will encourage more operators to opt for listing.

Responsibility for introducing changes in the rating system lies with my colleagues, the Ministers for Finance and the Environment and Local Government.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

222 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the action, if any, he is tak ing to alleviate the problems highlighted in a report sent to his Department from a work group (details supplied) in Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2803/00]

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Dr. McDaid)

My Department has received a copy of the report referred to by the Deputy, a socio-economic profile of Athy, County Kildare. I was asked to consider what action might be taken by my Department in relation to one of the key issues identified in the report, namely, the need for diversification of economic activity. The authors indicated that the targeting of tourism and sports related activities was envisaged in this regard. The report was examined by officials at my Department and a comprehensive response issued to its authors, the Athy investment, development and employment forum.

This response referred to the range of funding and support schemes available, or which will become available this year, for both sports and tourism development throughout the country.

I should point out, however, that any such development, in any part of the country, to be successful, must be led by and in partnership with local community and business interests.

Under the sports capital programme, national lottery funding will be available to voluntary and community organisations to construct, refurbish, improve and equip high quality, well-designed and sustainable sports and recreational facilities. It is the primary vehicle for promoting the development of sports and recreational facilities. A copy of the application form for this programme was supplied to the forum.

Additionally, the recently published national development plan has, as a core objective, the fostering of balanced regional development. This has a particular relevance to tourism, which will receive, through my Department's Vote, in excess of £350 million for tourism marketing, product development and training over the next seven years.

The strategy for tourism product development under the plan will be based on the needs of areas, having regard to whether they are developed, developing or undeveloped.

While details of the products eligible for support will not be available until the regional operational programmes are published, I have advised the forum that it should remain in contact with the regional tourism manager who will keep them informed about proposals for funding of tourism product development under the plan.