Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I very much welcome the return of aviation and tourism that we have seen in recent months. It is great to see tourists returning to our shores again and those employed in aviation being able to return to work at long last.

Tourists come to our shores to visit our stunning and scenic beauty spots, our mountains and coastlines, and to experience our bustling cities. Fáilte Ireland and the Department of Tourism, Culture,Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media have done a tremendous job in promoting Ireland as an attractive tourist destination.

Tourists also come here to sample our culture, taste our famous Irish dishes and sip on our iconic Irish drinks. Our meat, dairy and seafood are some of the best in the world. The iconic pint of stout and Ireland’s status as home of whiskey are tourist attractions in and of themselves. That is why before the pandemic, Ireland was increasingly seen not only as a great tourist destination but also a leading food tourism destination.

Building on Ireland’s strong food and drink production we have Michelin star chefs, world-class restaurants and world-famous Irish pubs. We have food markets, food trails, cookery schools, breweries and distilleries. It is a thriving industry. Food and drink focused tourists, particularly those looking for premium experiences, bring a very welcome contribution to the economy. As we emerge from the pandemic and tourists and aviation return to our shores, we must do all we can, as a Government, to encourage and nurture food and drink tourism, hand in hand with our tourism strategies, like the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, as well as the promotion of our thriving cities.

In 2018, Fáilte Ireland published a food and drink tourism strategy. The following year, it ran the Taste the Island initiative. This strategy should be at the heart of post-pandemic tourism recovery when it comes to food and drink focused tourism. Instead, Fáilte Ireland has disbanded its food and drink team. I ask that the Minister seek a reversal of this decision and ensure food and drink tourism is given the support it needs to attract tourists, sustain and create jobs and benefit communities across the State.

In focusing on food tourism, I also mention the important role our hospitality sector and local businesses play in welcoming tourists to every part of Ireland. The €7 million streetscape enhancement initiative, part of the Our Rural Future programme, was a great success in supporting rural towns and villages to be more attractive and welcoming places for locals and tourists alike. Many of my constituents in more rural areas of Dublin Mid-West, places like Saggart, Brittas, Rathcoole and Newcastle, were disappointed not be considered for this funding. Other Dublin areas such as Rush, Lusk, Donabate and Skerries were included. This left community groups in my area, such as Rathcoole Tidy Towns, feeling excluded. Making rural towns and villages welcoming and inviting to tourists is of great importance, as we all know.

I compliment the Minister on all she is doing to reboot our international tourism strategies. I ask her to consider the two changes I have highlighted, in tandem with our flagship tourism programmes.

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