Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

The report of the tourism renewal group set out tourism's contribution to Ireland's economic and social development and its prospects in a changed world, as well as a framework for action for tourism's survival, recovery and growth in the period to 2013. The report proposes five survival actions to minimise the impact of current challenges and nine recovery actions to set Irish tourism back on a growth path as the world economy recovers. All of these actions are being vigorously pursued by me, my Department and the relevant agencies.

Following publication of the report, my officials, focusing initially on the survival actions, pursued them with the tourism agencies and other relevant Departments and bodies. Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland have built in the relevant renewal group recommendations to their business and marketing plans for 2010. My officials are also working with a range of other organisations to develop opportunities to focus resources, achieve common objectives and maximise the impact on tourism.

Building on the framework for action, the 2010 budget recognised the tourism sector as a critical, labour-intensive sector. As I stated in an earlier response, the overall tourism services budget was increased, enabling the level and value of investment in overseas marketing of Ireland to be maintained in real terms, as recommended by the renewal group. Investment in visitor attractions was also increased to €22 million. Tourism was included in a range of cross-cutting measures to support enterprises and jobs, and these included the employment subsidy scheme and the credit review system. Additional specific measures, such as changes in alcohol excise duties and VAT and the rail travel initiative for senior citizens visiting Ireland, will also help the sector to recover. We talked about the rail travel initiative in the House last year.

Drawing on the report of the group and complemented by general supports for enterprise, my Department is identifying the right measures and is working with other Departments and the tourism agencies specifically to drive their delivery in order to position the tourism sector for recovery and growth as the Irish and global economies get back on track.

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