Jan O'Sullivan
Ceist:140 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the measures in effect to counter the impact of tourism on the environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5609/03]
Written Answers - Environmental Policy.
Ministerial responsibility for the protection of the environment rests with my colleague, the Minister for the Environment and Local Government. However, I am fully aware that the quality of the environment is at the heart of Ireland's attraction as a tourist destination.
The objective of securing an environmentally sustainable tourism sector, which, as I pointed out in reply to a question in October last, was clearly articulated in the strategy statement for the former Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation, continues to be a priority for my Department. Achievement of this objective is being pursued through the tourism marketing and product development policies agreed with, and implemented by, the tourism agencies. Both Tourism Ireland Limited and Bord Fáilte regard spatially balanced tourism as a key component of their marketing strategies, with an appropriate emphasis on both seasonal and geographical spread of business.
The overall objective of Bord Fáilte's tourism product development scheme is to develop the tourism industry in an environmentally sustainable way that widens the spatial spread of tourism, diverts pressure from highly developed areas and increases under-performing regions' share of overseas tourism revenue. This will be achieved by concentrating support: on a limited number of new visitor attractions; on marketable clusters of existing day visitor attractions which have yet to achieve their full tourism potential; on a series of special interest activities to meet identified niche markets; and on specific pro-environment tourism initiatives in the more established tourism areas.
Question No. 141 answered with Question No. 113.