Written Answers. - Official Engagements.
Michael D. Higgins
Ceist:
26
Mr. M. Higgins
asked the
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation
if he will make a statement on the matters discussed and conclusions reached at the North-South Ministerial Council meeting in County Fermanagh on 22 February 2002.
[8030/02]
The fifth meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council, NSMC, in the tourism sectoral format was held in County Fermanagh on Friday, 22 February 2002. Sir Reg Empey, MLA, Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, who chaired the meeting, and Ms Bairbre de Brún, MLA, Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, represented the Northern Ireland Administration, and I represented the Irish Government.
The chairperson of Tourism Ireland Limited, the North-South tourism marketing company, Mr. Andrew Coppel, presented a progress report on developments since the last meeting of the council in this sector on 7 November 2001. The council commended the progress made since November.
The chief executive of Tourism Ireland Limited, Mr. Paul O'Toole, gave the council a formal presentation on the company's corporate plan for 2002 to 2004 and on its operating plan for 2002. I am pleased to say that the NSMC approved both plans.
The council agreed that its next meeting in this sectoral format would take place in the South in May 2002. I propose to circulate a copy of the joint communiqué issued following the meeting with the Official Report.
NORTH-SOUTH MINISTERIAL COUNCIL
TOURISM SECTOR
KILLADEAS, CO. FERMANAGH
FRIDAY 22 FEBRUARY 2002
JOINT COMMUNIQUÉ
1. The fifth meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in the Tourism sec toral format was held in the Manor House Hotel, Killadeas, County Fermanagh on Friday 22 February 2002. Sir Reg Empey, MLA, Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, who chaired the meeting, and Ms Bairbre de Brún, MLA, Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety represented the Northern Ireland Administration. Dr. James McDaid, T.D., Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, represented the Irish Government.
Progress Report by Chairperson of Tourism Ireland Ltd.
2. The Chairperson of Tourism Ireland Limited, the North/South tourism marketing company, Mr. Andrew Coppel, presented a progress report on developments since the last meeting of the Council in this sector on 7 November 2001. This report covered:
Launch of Tourism Ireland
Corporate Plan 2002 to 2004 and the 2002 Operating Plan
Operations (Staffing and Premises)
Development of marketing campaigns; and
The Tourism Marketing Partnership
3. The Chairperson told the meeting that, in addition to the launch of the 2002 marketing programme in Dublin and Belfast on 7 November 2001, further launches took place in London, New York and Toronto and that further launches are planned for Germany and France.
4. Mr. Coppel reported on progress in relation to the Company's new premises in Dublin and Coleraine. It is hoped that Tourism Ireland will occupy its new headquarters premises in Bishop's Square in Dublin by June 2002 and that the Coleraine office will be occupied by October 2002.
5. The Chairperson also reported that Tourism Ireland had formally taken over responsibility for the international marketing of the island of Ireland in January 2002 and that marketing campaigns are underway in each market in line with the objectives and strategy approved by the NSMC in November 2001. Mr. Coppel also informed the Council that the Company intends to expand its Tourism Marketing Partnership to include a broader participation by industry in Northern Ireland and in the South and by industry overseas. Market Industry Consultative Groups are also to be formally established in each main market. The main outputs from these groups will be made available to the Tourism Marketing Partnership.
6. The Chairperson commented on the Marketing Campaign which had been crafted in a focused manner. However, in the context of the aftermath of 11th September, which has impacted US travel, and the difficult economies in Western Europe, particularly Germany, any forecasts should be treated with caution until there is real evidence of a material recovery in international travel.
7. The Council welcomed Mr. Coppel's report and commended the progress made since November. Both sides acknowledged the importance to the company of developing close links with industry representatives and expressed satisfaction at the progress that had been made in this regard.
Business Planning
8. The Chief Executive of Tourism Ireland Ltd., Mr. Paul O'Toole, gave the Council a formal presentation on the Company's Corporate Plan for 2002-2004 and on its Operating Plan for 2002. The NSMC approved both Plans.
9. In the Corporate Plan, Tourism Ireland is seen as having two key roles. The first is reaching out to consumers in the international marketplace. The second is encouraging business linkages between the tourist industry and the travel trade in target markets. The underlying objective is increasing visitor numbers and revenue to the island of Ireland and to support Northern Ireland in realising its full tourism potential. The Plan anticipates 5% compound growth in tourism to the island with 8% compound growth for Northern Ireland for each of the three years 2002-2004.
10. The Corporate Plan outlines a challenging plan of action and a set of key tasks that will help the island's tourism industry grow and develop for the long term while also underpinning the development of Tourism Ireland itself. Tourism Ireland will adopt its strategic leadership role for international marketing and will influence the direction of the sector through understanding and communicating its knowledge of Ireland's visitors and markets to its partners.
11. The 2002 Operating Plan, involving a marketing programme budget of approximately €27m (£16.5m), has been devised to ensure that Tourism Ireland delivers on its mandate to grow tourism as an economic sector on the island of Ireland and in the process, support Northern Ireland to realize its tourism potential. A major component of this year's operating plan is to develop better performance measures for the tourism sector and the company. In addition, the company will continue to develop its relationships with key tourism stakeholders including the industry, North, South and overseas.
12. The Operating Plan has been prepared in the knowledge that 2002 will be a challenging year. The challenges the Company face reflect the difficult trading conditions that are expected and its need to quickly establish its credentials with stakeholders. Consequently Tourism Ireland's efforts will be focused on three main areas of activity:
Securing business through implementing ambitious innovative marketing programmes in the new "visland of Ireland" context
Establishing the necessary marketing capabilities and communications infrastructure to take the company forward in a new and dynamic environment
Building and motivating a team of tourism professionals to work with industry partners.
13. The Council approved both the Corporate Plan and the company's proposed marketing activities in year 2002. The Ministers acknowledged the challenging nature of the targets set out therein and expressed their confidence in the ability of the new Company to meet these targets over the life of the plans. The Council reiterated its wish to see Tourism Ireland play a leading role in the development of the Tourism industry on the island, and restated the importance of the industry to economic growth, North and South.
Date of Next Meeting
14. The Council agreed that its next meeting in this sectoral format would take place in the South in May 2002.
Joint Secretariat
22 February 2002
