Terry Brennan (Fine Gael)

Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an teach seo arís. Tá sé ag déanamh obair iontach ar son thionscal turasóireachta na tíre. The Minister of State has demonstrated a great appetite and enthusiasm in his portfolio and I wish him continued success.

This is a short Bill but one which will encourage great debate. We are living in times of great economic constraints and restraint. The Bill relates to the very important industry of tourism and seeks to increase the level of funding for the National Tourism Development Authority, or Fáilte Ireland, from €65 million to €150 million for the purposes of supporting enterprises and projects to increase tourist traffic and the development of tourism facilities and services throughout the country.

Tourism will play a significant part in our economic recovery in the coming years. It is the single biggest industry in the world and it is our duty to ensure we continue to vigorously maintain and develop the enormous tourism potential of the island of Ireland. We all have a duty and a part to play in this regard.

In 2007, some 7.7 million visitors came to Ireland, while in 2010 this figure was reduced to approximately 5.5 million. The Government has taken measures to address this through a reduction of VAT, reducing employers' PRSI, and changes in the system of visa applications for people who want to visit our country. These changes are most welcome and have helped to increase the number of visitors this year to Ireland.

American and Continental visitor numbers have increased this year by 15% to 16% but visitor numbers from Great Britain, our nearest neighbour and our biggest market, have only increased by 8%. We must identify the issues and reasons for this in the short term and review our marketing strategy at an early date.

One major issue which needs to be addressed to promote growth in the tourism sector is the cost of holidaying in Ireland compared to holidaying in our European counterparts. Many airlines offer low-cost flights to European cities, some for as little as €20. Meanwhile, many cross-country buses and trains are extremely expensive and costs need to be lowered for Ireland to compete in this part of the tourism market. A one-way ticket from Galway to Dublin costs the customer on average €34.50, which is nearly €70 euro for a return ticket. In addition, one has accommodation costs which are usually on average around €100 per person per night. This is compared to holiday deals in locations such as the Algarve, which costs €239 for seven nights including accommodation. This is an up-to-date example quoted to a constituent of mine only this week. These prices are highly competitive and have the ability to draw tourists abroad instead of allowing them the choice to holiday in Ireland.

Evidence from the Fáilte Ireland's "Tourism Facts 2010" suggests that most of our travelling overseas tourists came from Britain and mainland Europe. This is obviously due to cheap air fares and accessibility. However, if we want to increase the number of people visiting Ireland we must do something about the price of our hotels and guesthouses, as Senator O'Sullivan mentioned earlier.

In addition to this, many tourist destinations around Ireland tend to increase their prices dramatically when there is an event on in their area. According to the Irish Independent of 25 November, a Dublin hotel, which shall remain nameless, doubled its room prices as soon as Bruce Springsteen announced a forthcoming concert. It raised its room rates from €119 to €250 for the night of the concert at the RDS, which incidentally does not take place until 17 July next year. Nonetheless the hotel has already advertised these prices. Something must be done to tackle this issue and perhaps the regulation of hotel costs would help. Our goal should be trying to get more tourists into Ireland rather than driving them away with high costs. Why would somebody come to Ireland to see Bruce Springsteen in Dublin, if they can travel to Spain to see the same concert and not have the burden of outrageous accommodation prices? Since the Celtic tiger when prices soared, Ireland has become known across the board as an expensive country. We do not want to be seen as ripping tourists off, but offering them value for money and a memorable holiday.

I have no doubt - and neither has the Minister of State - that throughout our beautiful country we have a tourism product that is second to none. From Donegal to Cork, and from my own county of Louth to Kerry, all areas have a wide variety of tourist attractions, in abundance, to offer the most discerning visitor. Tourism is a labour intensive industry with approximately 180,000 sustainable jobs, as the Minister of State said. Our hotel and catering staff are highly trained and efficient. A hotel employing from 80 to 100 people is invaluable to any local economy, so we must endeavour to maintain and protect these jobs.

All our respective areas and regions have something special to offer visitors. In this respect, I recognise the part played by tidy towns groups throughout the country. We receive favourable remarks from visitors who like to see our towns kept in good condition. I would hate to see what our towns and countryside would be like if not for the work of the tidy towns movement. For more than 40 years, I have been involved in that movement and know that litter continues to be a black spot for visitors in many parts. That is a reflection on our nation and our people as a whole. Many of us have a part to play in being responsible and not littering the streets of towns and cities. What a saving it would mean if we did not have to sweep up in many beauty spots that area being littered by ourselves.

It would be remiss of me not to mention my own home county of Louth, which has a new brand name "Land of legends and full of life". In 2009, the Louth Economic Forum was established under the auspices of the Louth County Development Board. This forum is chaired by an independent chairman, Mr. Pauric White, a former CEO of the IDA and Senator Mary White's husband. The forum has an overall ten-point plan identifying ten specific areas within its work programme over the next three years. Its vision is to capitalise on Louth's unique location as the hub for the Boyne Valley as well as the Cooley, Mournes and Slieve Gullian region, which are two of Fáilte Ireland's top tourist development destinations.

I commend the Bill to the House.