Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 November 2021
116. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the supports available for sustainable tourism; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55116/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy primary focus over the course of the last 18 months in relation to tourism has been on the survival of the sector. Tourism has been devastated by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the necessary public health restrictions introduced to control it. Now, as our economy and society begins to open up, we have an opportunity to reconfigure our tourism sector and to more meaningfully address sustainable development and management within the tourism ecosystem.
I recently brought a report to Government, developed by the Sustainable Tourism Working Group, which identifies a suite of actions that will promote sustainable tourism practices which can be implemented prior to the development of a new national tourism policy. The actions identified in this interim action plan will help to form a clear narrative for communicating about the sustainability agenda, build a better understanding and awareness among tourism stakeholders and allow for visitors to practice responsible tourism. The successful implementation of the interim action plan, along with the guiding principles that were developed in 2019, will underpin the advancement of a new tourism policy which will mainstream sustainability.
As the Deputy will be aware, in Budget 2022, I secured a record level of funding for tourism. This funding will support measures to help address short-term survival-related concerns and also enable recovery across industry as we reopen to international tourism and begin to transition to a more sustainable future. This funding will also allow the tourism agencies to deliver on their commitments in the interim action plan. For example, next year Fáilte Ireland will develop and roll out a suite of supports and workshops to help tourism businesses to implement sustainability best practice and leverage the benefits for their business. Tourism Ireland will create new sales and marketing opportunities for those sustainable tourism businesses that want to grow their international business.
Measures such as these will shine a light on areas and destinations at home that are striving to be best in class in terms of sustainability and provide better access to information and tools for the tourism industry and visitors to practice responsible tourism. As we rebuild our tourism sector we will seek to realise Ireland’s ambition to be amongst the world-leaders in sustainable tourism practices and set out a path for a green transition of the tourism industry and our destinations to become leading sustainable tourism destinations. Many parts of Ireland are very well positioned to advance down this path, including the Deputy's own West Cork which, with its strong food and cultural focus and spectacular scenery and natural heritage, has built a very strong international awareness of all that it has to offer.
