Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 October 2017
585. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which potential exists for further development of the tourism sector, with particular reference to the need to encourage growth in the area most likely to be affected by global developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42422/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government's Tourism Policy Statement, "People, Place and Policy – Growing Tourism to 2025", was launched in March 2015. The main targets contained in the Tourism Policy Statement, to be achieved by 2025, are as follows:
- Overseas tourism revenue to increase to €5 billion net of inflation, compared to €3.5 billion in 2014;
- Overseas visits to Ireland to increase to ten million, compared to 7.6 million in 2014; and
- 250,000 people to be employed in the tourism sector, compared to around 205,000 at present.
In 2015, a Tourism Leadership Group was appointed to put in place a Tourism Action Plan containing key actions required in the period to 2018 in order to achieve the overall objectives in the Policy Statement. The Action Plan was published in January 2016 and contains actions across a range of key issues including skills in the tourism industry; supply of visitor accommodation; overseas tourism marketing; and the contribution of Local Authorities to tourism development. The Tourism Leadership Group, which I chair, met on 21 September last and noted that the key actions are now completed or substantially completed. The Tourism Leadership Group will now start work on a future Tourism Action Plan for the period 2018-20.
The promotion and development of tourism are primarily matters for the boards and management of Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to the tourism agencies for further reply. Please advise my private office if the Deputy does not receive a response within ten working days.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
