Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 December 2004
59 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on the decline of walking tourism since the 1990s and the fact that Wales, a smaller region, caters for almost seven times as many walking tourists. [31440/04]
Amharc ar fhreagra89 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he is concerned at the decline in the number of tourists travelling here for the purpose of engaging in hill walking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31475/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 89 together.
The marketing and promotion of niche tourism products such as walking and other holiday activities is carried out by the tourism State agencies, not my Department. Fáilte Ireland has legislative responsibility for supporting the tourism industry in the areas of product development and niche-specialist product marketing, while Tourism Ireland markets the island of Ireland overseas. Fáilte Ireland formulates marketing and promotion campaigns for niche tourism products which Tourism Ireland delivers overseas.
Fáilte Ireland recently published its detailed analysis of the data on the activities in which overseas visitors engaged while in Ireland in 2003. It confirms the downward trend in activity based visits, including walking holidays, evident in recent years. The fact sheets are availableon Fáilte Ireland's corporate website, www.failteireland.ie.
To halt the downward trend requires concerted and complementary actions by the State tourism agencies and a range of stakeholders. The product providers must ensure they know what their consumers want, how their behaviour is changing and that they are in a position to meet changing needs. An environment of evolving consumer choices and needs is here to stay and the Irish tourism industry needs to take cognisance of this.
The changing nature of the British market which provides nearly 60% of our overseas visitors and which was particularly significant for various activity segments presents a particular challenge. Some of the relevant issues are: the preference for shorter, city breaks; the fact that the number of bed nights by British visitors outside Dublin is down significantly; the drop in the own-car segment, making visitors less mobile and more bound to the area around the point of arrival; and the perception of the quality of some of the product offerings.
Tourism Ireland, in conjunction with the industry, has undertaken a major review of the British market with a view to identifying the reasons for the changes in consumer behaviour and the responses needed by the tourism industry to address them and grow this market. I regard the British market as of pivotal importance. It represents approximately 4.75 million of our visitors every year. Therefore, this study is of immense importance.
I understand the first phase of the Tourism Ireland research has been completed and that phase two, currently under way, is the largest qualitative research exercise ever undertaken by a tourism agency of the British consumer. Informed by the results of the research, tangible and relevant responses to shifting demand patterns and other challenges being presented by the British market are being and will continue to be developed by Tourism Ireland with its partners in the tourism industry.
Some of the emerging issues and priorities will be outlined by Tourism Ireland in its marketing strategy and plans for 2005 to be presented to the industry early this month. The increased funding of 14% that I secured in the recent Estimates, to bring the tourism marketing fund to almost €35.8 million in 2005, will allow Tourism Ireland to step forward confidently with its plans to reshape and reinvigorate its marketing and advertising campaigns in the British and other key markets.
The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs is, via Comhairle na Tuaithe, addressing various issues around access to the countryside. In addition, a Supreme Court ruling is also awaited on the question of the liability of landowners. It may well be that progress on the access issue will have to await the outcome of that crucial judgement.
There is a lot of focus on the access issue, which is understandable, but it would be wrong to think access is the only issue. Even if we had no problems with access — I believe we exaggerate the extent of the problem — we would still have major challenges in the walking and other activity segments. To address the wider challenges, Fáilte Ireland has undertaken a series of case studies on key tourism products some of which should be available early in the new year.
I noted that the Minister was present to vote on the Bill I brought forward in the House yesterday. I hope some of the suggestions made by the Opposition in that debate will be taken on board. What is the Minister's opinion on why the number of overseas visitors who came here on walking holidays declined from approximately 320,000 in 1993 to 170,000 in 2003? Has he any valid reason for this when in the face of the events of 11 September 2001 the rest of the tourism figures held up well? What leadership role will he take in this regard?
Given that the Minister holds the record for passing and refusing questions via the Arts Council, the Irish Sports Council or Fáilte Ireland, what leadership role will he play in the light of the Bill that was defeated and of the reality that walking in Ireland is seen as a no-go area among tourism specialists throughout Europe? All the walking magazines in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe advise people to get out of Ireland and go to Scotland and Wales. What is the Minister going to do to address this imbalance in the next five years? Will he, for example, set up a task force separate from Comhairle na Tuaithe to designate new areas for walking, such as County Monaghan, and make Ireland a welcoming, inviting place once again?
I do not believe there is any one reason for the decline in walking holidays in Ireland. I am not so sure that comparisons with Wales are valid because Wales is part of Britain to which people can drive. The bulk of the Welsh walking business is domestically driven, mainly from England which has a population of just under 50 million.
In Ireland the level of domestic participation in walking last year totalled 235,000 while the number of overseas visitors came to 168,000. After historical and cultural activities, walking remains the largest niche area. There is no doubt that access to the countryside presents a difficulty. The Donegal case in which judgment has been reserved by the Supreme Court will prove pivotal in addressing the problem.
The British Government introduced very demanding legislation in regard to legal rights of access for walking activities across Britain. Having looked at the situation, I am strongly of the view that because of the rights to private property in the Constitution, such legislation would not survive constitutional challenge here and that represents a real difficulty. I do not say access is the only problem, but it is certainly one of the problems with which we are faced. Until such time as that is resolved, it is difficult for us to market walking holidays in Ireland in the manner in which we would like.
I compliment my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív, for setting up the countryside recreation council, Comhairle na Tuaithe, in January last year. It has established three working groups which are examining the contentious issue of access, but no further progress can be made pending the decision of the Supreme Court appeal in the Donegal case where, as Deputy Gogarty is probably aware, a landowner was held to be 75% negligent in regard to injuries sustained by a walker.
It is the function of Tourism Ireland to market the island of Ireland, including physical activities, on the international stage. Fáilte Ireland, which has responsibility in this jurisdiction, also has a great interest in that. I hope we will be able to make further progress on this important issue following the delivery of the reserve judgment in the Donegal case. We will then be in a position to review the situation with a more optimistic outlook.
I am sure the Minister is aware that more walkers came to Ireland last year than golfers. Some 133,000 golfers came here in 2003 whereas 168,000 walkers came. People do not realise that walking is a great deal more valuable to Ireland than golf. The multiplier is also large. Does the Minister agree that of all leisure activities, walking makes the greatest impact in the regions and rural Ireland? Some 96% of walkers go to rural areas, including the peninsulas of County Kerry, where the Minister and I come from. Tourism numbers have gone down considerably in the regions.
In view of the importance of walking to tourism, should action not be urgently taken by Tourism Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and the Department? As Deputy Gogarty pointed out, the number of walkers has declined from 325,000 in 1993 to 168,000 last year. This must give rise to concern.
We are concerned at the decline in the number of people coming here on walking holidays. I explained that walking holidays are very much dependent, although not exclusively, on British holidaymakers. I also explained how Fáilte Ireland is engaged in one of the most comprehensive examinations of attitudes among British visitors ever undertaken by any tourism agency with a view to improving business from Britain, which, in turn, and as a matter of consequence would also improve the number of people coming here on walking holidays from Britain. This is something we treat very seriously.
At a time when farming is in decline, rural tourism has become far more important and the focus on rural tourism will become ever greater. That is why I am inclined to ask landowners to carefully reflect on this in terms of excluding people from their lands. I understand why there would be a certain amount of concern among landowners in regard to negligence actions and so on, but I have stated that we expect the Supreme Court to deliver its judgment in the Donegal case relatively soon whereupon matters should become clearer.
In the meantime, the tourism industry remains our best bet in terms of regionalisation. It does not require a deliberate act of decentralisation and in that respect it is important that the best welcome which can be extended is extended to visitors to rural areas who seek to go hill walking.
