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Tourism Industry

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 November 2021

Thursday, 11 November 2021

Ceisteanna (254, 255, 256, 257, 258)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

254. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she can assist the tourism sector in the short to medium-term given the continued existence of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55438/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

255. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which her Department continues to monitor and evaluate the damage done to the tourism sector by Covid-19 with a view to identifying the means necessary to offer assistance in the time ahead with particular reference to the need to ensure full recovery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55439/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

256. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the ongoing proposals to assist the tourism sector in its recovery from Covid-19 given the ongoing presence of the virus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55440/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

257. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the degree to which she is in continuous contact with all aspects of the tourism sector with a view to maximising her Department's advice and assistance in the face of the persistent challenge of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55441/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

258. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the bulk of the submissions she has received from the tourism sector in the context of the utilisation of every possible means of revival and recovery in the face of the ongoing presence of the Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55442/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 254 to 258, inclusive, together.

As the Deputy is aware, our tourism sector has been devastated by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and in that regard, my primary focus since taking office has been on the survival of the sector. A Tourism Recovery Taskforce was appointed in 2020 to prepare a Tourism Recovery Plan with recommendations on how best the Irish tourism sector can adapt and recover in a changed tourism environment as a result of the crisis. The Taskforce undertook a public consultation process that garnered over 800 responses, including submissions from 60 organisations. This input helped guide and influence the key pillars of the report and informed the recommendations in terms of the survival and recovery phases for the sector.

The Taskforce presented the Tourism Recovery Plan 2020 – 2023 to me in September 2020. The Plan makes a number of recommendations to help tourism businesses to survive, stabilise and recover from the COVID pandemic. In December 2020, I appointed a Recovery Oversight Group, who report to me on a regular basis with updates on the implementation of the recommendations set out in the Recovery Plan and on the recovery of the sector.

I regularly meet with and remain open to engaging with, a wide variety of tourism stakeholders and representative bodies. The Hospitality and Tourism Forum, which the Tánaiste and I established, continues to provide a platform for structured engagement between the Hospitality and Tourism sectors, the tourism agencies and relevant Government Departments. The purpose of the Forum is to allow key issues to be discussed, with a view to identifying practical actions which could be taken by Government or by industry itself, to support the sectors.

In Budget 2022, I secured a record level of funding for tourism that will 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 includes a €35 million increase in the Tourism Marketing Fund in 2022, to accelerate the return of international tourism to Ireland.  Budget 2022 also included a provision of €50 million for further business continuity support for strategic tourism businesses that can help drive the sustainable recovery of our tourism sector; and an additional provision for skills development and staff retention.

There is increasing recognition that tourism growth must be sustainable, as well as being consistent with our sectoral climate change targets and commitments. In that regard, I know that Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland are working towards the longer term goal of ensuring that we are successfully marketed as a sustainable tourism destination.

The work of the Recovery Oversight Group, in addition to my on-going engagement with industry stakeholders and representatives, will inform future policy considerations as I continue to work, alongside my Government colleagues, to support the tourism sector over the coming year and beyond.

Question No. 255 answered with Question No. 254.
Question No. 256 answered with Question No. 254.
Question No. 257 answered with Question No. 254.
Question No. 258 answered with Question No. 254.
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