Seanad debates
Wednesday, 13 November 2002
Tourism Industry: Statements.
Regionalisation is important. There is a demand that all Government agencies and offices should be decentralised. Tourism demands that people travel to tourist attractions. There is great scope to develop the regions. The Minister mentioned the south-west region. The south-west and the west are two of the most peripheral regions in the country and they have benefited greatly from the tourism industry in recent years. Although only one-quarter of the population lives in those areas, two-fifths of all tourism related income are generated there. Tourism is of significant benefit to those peripheral regions. However, it is disappointing that the poorest region, the midlands, which has 5.6% of the population, only generates 3.2% of total tourism income.
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