Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 April 2024
375. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the way in which the €7.75 million allocated to her Department under the 2023 EU Brexit Adjustment Fund was spent; and if she will provide headings and sub-headings and amounts associated with same. [18915/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs a result of the adverse impact of Brexit on Irish tourism, €7.75 million in Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) funding was allocated to Tourism Ireland in 2023 to put in place a marketing strategy to stem and reverse the decline in tourist numbers and associated revenues from Great Britain and Northern Ireland and also to grow tourism from other markets.
The marketing strategy reflected the short-term need to both retain GB business and gain more EU visitors and, in parallel, to help to drive greater market diversification. Tourism Ireland undertook a comprehensive programme of marketing activity throughout 2023, targeting both Great Britain and key European markets.
As outlined by the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in PQ 114 of February this year, the exact composition of Ireland's BAR claim will not be finalised until the claim is submitted in September 2024. Work is ongoing by his Department to verify all Brexit-related spending for inclusion in the BAR claim and as such it is not possible at this time to confirm individual projects or final amounts of expenditure in any sector that will be included in the BAR claim.
Notwithstanding that, the actions taken by Tourism Ireland supported the tourism economy by enabling it to remain competitive in response to Brexit, protect jobs in the sector, support exposed regions and diversify markets after Brexit.
Activity programs were implemented under the following headings:
|
Campaign Theme |
Activities |
|
Campaign focus for visitors from GB |
Publicity; Consumer Advertising Campaigns; Work with B2B tour operator partners |
|
Campaign focus for visitors from Mainland Europe |
Publicity; Consumer Advertising Campaigns; Work with B2B tour operator partners |
|
Supporting the Irish tourism industry most impacted by Brexit |
Fairs, workshops and events |
