Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the fact that there is a new strategy. That is important. Will the Minister clarify what consultation will be held with the various stakeholders, including the Irish Hotels Federation, Dublin Airport Authority, and the airlines on which we rely to bring tourists into the State? The Minister is correct that nobody knows what is going to happen with the CTA, possibly for two years. However, in the meantime we cannot just wait to see what will happen; we have to be actively targeting new markets such as the Asia-Pacific region. There is a real opportunity to attract more visitors from that area. Will the Minister, under the new strategy, make the necessary funding available to ensure Ireland can be marketed to these areas? Over the last three or four years there has been a cut of approximately 17% to the tourism marketing funding. Will that cut be reversed under the new strategy?

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