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

The overall growth in our tourist numbers is welcome, but that is largely due to the huge increase in the number of US visitors. That usually depends on favourable exchange rates. That exchange rate can fall in the same way as the UK visitor numbers have fallen. Unfortunately, what I understand from the Minister's reply, and he can correct me if I am wrong, is that only a measly additional €2 million will be invested in marketing next year. The capital funding of up to €33 million that he mentioned will be spent over a period of five years over the duration of the next capital plan. An allocation of €2 million is not adequate for the amount of marketing that needs to be done in the UK and in mainland Europe to compensate for the loss in UK visitor numbers. Did the Minister have an opportunity to read the submission forwarded in advance of the budget by the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation, the representative body working with the many stakeholders in the tourism sector? When we consider what the Minister has delivered, it does not go anywhere near addressing the serious issue of the fall in UK visitor numbers.

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