Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the presentations from Mr. Quinn and Mr. Henry and congratulate both organisations on achieving very encouraging results albeit from a low base from the peak of 2008. It is encouraging to see a recovery in what is a hugely important industry for the country. The figures on the domestic tourism side need a bit of a boost. I do not know what role Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland have played in attracting domestic and international corporate convention tourism. Could we do more there? Could Mr. Quinn and Mr. Henry identify issues where there is a real blockage in terms of attracting that type of visitor? They are high end and would be welcome visitors.

I am fortunate to live on the Beara peninsula in west Cork on the Wild Atlantic Way route. Every time I come to Dublin, I am amazed by the amount of young people from different countries working in Dublin who constitute a market in a domestic sense. I am reflecting the views of people where I live. Would there be any value in going to a large multinational, particularly in Dublin, and saying to its workforce that even though they are working in Dublin, they are young, energetic and mobile and there is another Ireland out there? There could be a market here. The weekend break typically deals with Dublin but this is a cohort of people who might consider a weekend break away from Dublin. There are tens of thousands of people who might avail of this. We do not see them.

I congratulate all those who work on the Wild Atlantic Way. I live on it and believe it is going to be an iconic tourism destination. The signage, work, effort and investment so far have been very welcome. I do have one criticism. It is one I have mentioned in some meetings I have had with local authorities and the Wild Atlantic Way and concerns the app.

Quite frankly, one could read the entire app in the time it took to make half the presentation this morning. I suggest that the Wild Atlantic Way app directs users to local businesses and tourism initiatives such as hotels, guesthouses, restaurants or whatever. The app is very limited but perhaps that is due to a lack of resources. It has so much potential. It is too one dimensional and much more work could be done with it. As Mr. Henry has said, the people who travel to Ireland are no less engaged with their digital devices than we are. They take them with them and will look at them whether it is in Inishowen, Malin Head, Mizen Head or the Cliffs of Moher. As they travel around they will check their digital devices for information such as where to get a meal, places to stay, prices and menus. They will also want to know how to get to a particular viewing point, directions for same and how long it will take walking, driving or whatever to reach that destination. The app has more potential which should be developed.

Mr. Quinn will speak later today at the marine conference being held at Dublin Castle. The following matter might be worth looking at. He touched on the subject himself when he mentioned the heritage issue of the south and east, marine archaeology and the heritage link-up one could have from Wexford to Spike Island. People will want to access such a heritage product and it is not particularly seasonal. As he mentioned, the initiative could be expanded on the shoulders of other initiatives. Will Fáilte Ireland develop and Tourism Ireland market the initiative? It would bring in the type of customer he mentioned - the older client.

I also note that Fáilte Ireland's current strategy is to dispose of assets and that it has begun to get out of the property game. I suggest it deals with that job carefully. I know there are some places in west Cork, in my constituency, where it is looking at disposing assets. I hope that if it is doing so, it will keep in mind the strategic nature of those assets in terms of tourism and ensure they do not fall into the wrong hands. I hope they will be maintained, inasmuch as the agency can do so, for tourism related initiatives. That would be very important. The sites are established and have been branded tourism assets which I hope is what they will remain. I will discuss some specific locations that I am concerned about with Fáilte Ireland in due course.

Either Fáilte Ireland or Tourism Ireland touched on the issue of the 9% VAT rate. I would like to think that it was maintained because the tourism sector lobbied vigorously to maintain the rate. Are there further initiatives planned? I do not believe the organisations see the rate as an end in itself in terms of what the Government can do to stimulate the industry. We are entering negotiations now and the budget will take place later on in the year. Are there specific issues that could stimulate the sector?

My final questions are for Tourism Ireland. Has it done any projections on the loosening up of visa requirements for the UK from China and India? The potential to do so was touched on in the presentation. Has anything been done to progress the matter? Is the process only beginning?