Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 June 2022
18. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her Department’s strategy to attract an increased number of tourists in view of the increased number of direct sailings from Ireland to mainland Europe; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32423/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs an island economy, it is essential that tourism is enabled by the supply of convenient, direct and competitive access. Tourism Ireland has a vital role to play in building the demand needed to restore access and connectivity to pre-pandemic levels, by working closely with air and sea carriers, airports and ferry ports, as well as other partners, to drive demand for new and existing air and sea services. Tourism Ireland consistently makes the case for the introduction of strategically important inbound services and welcomes proposals from air and sea carriers for the introduction of routes with inbound tourism potential.
Tourism Ireland promotes regional air and sea access to Ireland in overseas tourism markets through initiatives like the Regional Cooperative Marketing Fund. This initiative seeks to encourage new access opportunities and to maximise the potential of existing services to the regions, with matched funding from airlines, sea carriers, airports, ports and regional tourism stakeholders including Local Authorities.
The Regional Cooperative Marketing Fund has been very important in enabling tactical partnerships that have helped drive increases in visitors to the regions, amplifying the tourism marketing message overseas and supporting direct access. This scheme will continue to form a very important part of Tourism Ireland's plans in supporting the recovery of our tourism sector in a post-pandemic environment.
The allocation to Tourism Ireland in respect of the Regional Cooperative Marketing Fund for 2022 is €3 million.
This Spring, Tourism Ireland in France undertook a co-operative campaign with Brittany Ferries, to help drive demand among French holidaymakers for its Roscoff to Cork and its Cherbourg to Rosslare services and bookings for sailings for July 2022 are up 44% on July 2019.
Tourism Ireland will run campaigns in France this Autumn with Irish Ferries to promote its Cherbourg to Dublin service, with Stena Line to promote its Cherbourg to Rosslare service and with DFDS to promote its Dunkirk to Rosslare service.
Tourism Ireland in Spain will also partner with Brittany Ferries this autumn, to highlight its Bilbao to Rosslare service to potential holidaymakers in northern Spain. Earlier this year, Brittany Ferries confirmed the introduction of a more tourism-oriented ship, the Galicia, on its Bilbao to Rosslare route, from November 2022. Currently this route is serviced by the Connemara, a predominantly freight vessel with limited facilities for holidaymakers. The new ship offers potential to grow visitor numbers from northern Spain and Tourism Ireland will work with Brittany Ferries to leverage that opportunity.
