Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 February 2022
246. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she expects the tourism industry to recover as Covid-19 recedes; if inflationary tendencies have been detected in the industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10749/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFáilte Ireland estimates that in 2022, if COVID-19 remains under control, the domestic tourism market could return to 2019 levels. This estimate is based on the strong performance of the domestic market during the pandemic and the pent-up demand that remains in the market. Furthermore, the overseas market could return to approximately 70% of 2019 levels based on the air access outlook for 2022.
As the Deputy will be aware, in Budget 2022, I secured a record level of funding for tourism. This funding will help to 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. The funding allocated to the tourism agencies in 2022 includes €50 million for further business continuity support for strategic tourism businesses and a €35 million increase in the Tourism Marketing Fund as well as €36.5 million in capital funding for tourism product development.
As part of its marketing strategy, Tourism Ireland has established a recovery framework which will be underpinned by an extensive programme of promotional activity throughout 2022. The organisation has a flexible, three-phase plan to RESTART, REBUILD and ultimately REDESIGN demand. Over €80 million will be invested in the programme in 2022 which will allow Tourism Ireland to ramp up its campaigns in key international markets.
This year, Fáilte Ireland is doubling its domestic marketing investment to €10 million to drive domestic demand including short breaks all year round. Fáilte Ireland will also deliver four new Regional Tourism Strategies, setting out a 10-year vision and 5-year action plan for each region, and aim to ensure tourism businesses are visible, searchable and most importantly bookable through its "Digital that Delivers" programme.
I can assure the Deputy that I am continuing to work closely with the sector on recovery. The Tourism Recovery Oversight Group, which I appointed in 2020, continues to oversee the implementation of the Tourism Recovery Plan and monitor the sector’s recovery more generally. This Group reports to me on a regular basis and its work 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.
There is no doubt that the global pandemic has left our tourism sector in a weakened state but we have an opportunity now to address sustainable tourism development in a more meaningful way during the recovery and rebuilding phase following this crisis. In line with our Programme for Government commitments, officials within the Department have initiated the development of a new national tourism policy which will seek to mainstream sustainability. The development of this new policy will set out a path for the coming years which will support a sustainable recovery and subsequent re-growth in the sector.
Regarding the second part of the Deputy’s question, as the Deputy will be aware the Government is acutely aware of the increase in consumer prices in recent months, especially the increase in fuel and other energy prices. On 11 February 2022, the Government announced a support package totalling €505 million to mitigate the rise in the cost of living that is currently being experienced. It is hoped that measures such as these will help to alleviate and mitigate the current inflationary effect on the overall economy.
