Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank all of the witnesses not only for the time they have spent with us this afternoon but for the significant time they have spent in working with those involved in tourism and hospitality, shepherding them through what has been an unprecedented time for all. I have just a couple of observations to make. I suppose there is no harm in being somewhat parochial when one gets the opportunity. I live approximately 20 minutes from the Wild Atlantic Way. Some excellent work has been done over recent years to determine how to drive some of the significant traffic this wonderful concept generates further inland and off the Wild Atlantic Way, both to make it more sustainable with regard to how it is traversed and the impact it has on towns and villages along the route and to drive additional economic activity inland.

One such proposition is the Burren loop, which takes in the north of the Burren and southern Galway, an area we like to refer to as the Burren lowlands. Significant work is ongoing in that regard. It was supposed to be live for the season just gone but that was obviously never going to happen in the context of where we are. I hope it will be live for next season and that all necessary signage will be in place. There is a very large number of tourism operators in the area. Mr. Gibbons mentioned the award for sustainable tourism recently given to operators in the Burren area. They are very ambitious with regard to what this loop can do for some of the smaller inland towns and villages off the Wild Atlantic Way.

While I am on the Wild Atlantic Way, through nobody's fault, an excellent project to develop a cycling event along the length of the Wild Atlantic Way was not successful. It is a massive undertaking for any cyclist. The event was broken down into 16 stages, which may have been one of the reasons it was not as successful as had been hoped. I still believe, however, that we have a powerful opportunity to develop a number of cycling events along the Wild Atlantic Way, which could be marketed internationally. It is one of the most stunning locations in the world with regard to its scenery, the welcome, and the people, traditions and culture of the area. I hope that, despite difficulties having arisen with the first iteration, we might try to get something similar under way again.

The Beara Breifne Way, which is Ireland's potential answer to the Camino, starts in County Cork and winds its way all the way to Cavan. A significant part of the route runs through east Galway along the Hymany Way. An initial commitment of just over €1 million was made a number of months ago. How has that money been spent? How do we intend to further market this extraordinary opportunity to open up Ireland's Hidden Heartlands? As somebody who has a passion for tourism, exploration and using his bike to see different parts of the world, I believe there is an incredible opportunity here to open up a whole region, that middle part of the country running through the spine of Ireland along the banks of the Shannon, through places that have yet to experience the kind of economic lift that tourism can provide. What are the plans for that area in the future?

Well done to all the witnesses for the exceptional work they are doing in very challenging times. When we emerge from this, we will emerge stronger and more focused on where our real strengths lie with regard to marketing ourselves internationally. Well done to both groups on their excellent use of social media. Both Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland can hold themselves up as global exemplars in the use of social media. We have really upped our game in this regard over the past five to ten years and we are seeing the results internationally.