James Bannon (Fine Gael)

I also welcome the Minister of State, Deputy de Valera, to the House. She comes from one of the tourism honey pots and therefore I am sure she is tuned into the many issues relating to tourism and the problems we have encountered in the development of the industry. Tourism is a most important industry and has been a success story in terms of job creation and economic growth. All this has happened as a result of the good planning and foundations laid by Deputy Enda Kenny when Minister with responsibility for tourism. He introduced imaginative schemes which developed many of our tourism honey pots and resorts. Tourism has huge potential for future job creation and economic benefits provided we have a sound strategy backed by relentless co-operation and effort by the Government and all concerned with the business.

Developing tourism is not simple, especially after the foot and mouth crisis and the events of 11 September last year. Much effort is needed as well as linkage with other economic sectors, national agencies, public and private sector organisations, voluntary bodies and community groupings. Local authorities have taken a more proactive role in local tourism development through the provision of roads, better signposting, access to amenities and so on. All this should be welcomed. There is a greater role for local authorities, particularly for county tourism committees. This should be looked at in depth in the future.

Future growth or even the maintenance of our current position will not come easily. This is no time for the Government to stand aside and let things work for us. It is a time for the Government and the private sector to increase co-operation in order to protect and enhance this important industry in the national interest. Tourism has been a huge benefit to the Exchequer in recent years. Ten years ago approximately 88,000 job equivalents were attributed to it. Today, as the Minister said, this figure has increased to approximately 150,000 jobs. What a tremendous base on which to build the future of this great industry.

Travel is perceived as a luxury and may be the first sector to suffer in an economic decline. We do not want to see cutbacks in the advertising of Ireland abroad. This must be pursued with vigour. If one has a product, one must sell it. We must sell our tourism product more vigorously than we are doing throughout Europe and America, particularly in the EU applicant countries. We must continue to promote Ireland and encourage overseas tourists to our land because they generate huge earnings for the economy.