Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I have much more to say. However, we must consider how we can adopt a holistic approach to developing cycling tourism, one niche which offers great potential.

The Labour Party document contains many more ideas. Cultural tourism could be a major draw in Ireland, as we are uniquely well placed to take advantage of it. One idea brought forward by Deputy Upton is to hold Culture Night more than once a year because it could act as a major draw. As the Minister is aware, there is a huge array of highly successful festivals nationwide. I refer, in particular, to the Festival of World Cultures in Dún Laoghaire, with which the Minister is familiar and which grew from very small beginnings involving a couple of individuals who were supported by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. It has now developed into a major draw for people from many other countries and throughout Ireland who come to Dún Laoghaire every August and has been a huge success. We must consider the promotion of festivals in a holistic way, as well as promoting niche markets of the sort I have mentioned.

In addition, we must perceive and promote the arts sector, for which the Minister also is responsible, to attract tourists. The National Campaign for the Arts has made the case successfully for the promotion of cultural tourism as a genuine growth industry in Ireland. In its recent survey Fáilte Ireland has stated cultural tourism, both domestic and international, is worth more than €2 billion to the economy. While I have seen other figures suggesting it is worth up to €5 billion, it is clear a large number of visitors come here because they are attracted by particular aspects of Irish culture. This must be promoted both within Ireland as part of the domestic tourism campaign and externally.