Seanad debates

Wednesday, 30 November 2011

National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed)

 

1:00 pm

Photo of Marc MacSharryMarc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State. I have great hopes for, and confidence in, him in terms of the passion he shows in this portfolio. From monitoring his career so far, he strikes me as a man who does not operate within the box, but who is well capable of thinking outside it. That is what is needed in the Department to help it to reach its potential and tourism to play its part in the renewal of the economy. The set piece of a Minister being given a speech to read and being told that this is the policy will not work. I know the Minister of State is the kind of person who can operate outside that context.

We all support the Bill and the increased budget. It could be greater, as tourism could provide the most results and quickest wins. There are good initiatives and great people in Fáilte Ireland and in the other agencies, including a fellow county man, Mr. John Concannon, director of marketing at Fáilte Ireland, Mr. Paul Keely and so on. They are doing excellent work.

The Minister of State will not mind me mentioning that the concept of the gathering predates this Administration. The spoils it will produce will be of assistance. This morning, Senators and I attended a breakfast at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland where a group with which I am involved, Team Sligo, was tapping into Sligo's Dublin-based diaspora in a tourism context. The 90 people in the room represented 60 companies in Dublin, including some large international companies. If 20 of those companies had their annual conferences in Sligo next year, it would have an impact on tourism in the area, be it mid-week or weekend. Some of the people involved could be encouraged to return for a further weekend. This is just on the domestic tourism side.

I hope the commercial or tourism attachés throughout our embassies are also promoting the gathering concept, calling in members of the Irish diaspora on the corporate tourism side and suggesting that 20% of their companies bring one of their annual events to Ireland, be it to Galway, Sligo, Dublin or wherever. Under no circumstances should the National Convention Centre lose when one considers the kinds of events with which Irish people are involved internationally. Through the gathering concept, we could suggest that events be held in the centre. There are many opportunities on the corporate side. This will require thinking outside the box. Governments and politicians have hampered many civil servants with regard to connecting boxes within Departments. Remove the barriers, connect the boxes and get things moving.

We need to spend a great deal of money on educational tourism, which presents a significant opportunity. India and China have many millions of wealthy people who would like to travel but who do not know much about Ireland. We need to tell them and put on free flights for them. It might sound ridiculous in the extreme in a time of such austerity, but we should put aside a portion of our capital budget to pay for 50,000 seats from the Chinese and Indian markets. According to a briefing document on this debate, eight to 12 jobs are created by every few million euro of capital expenditure. For every €1 million spent by tourists, 13 jobs are created, but this fact has not been mentioned in today's debate.

India and China are developing markets. While they have vast populations and a high proportion of their citizenry is poor, a large number of their people compared with our population are wealthy and willing to travel. We need to make an effort in this regard. People could visit Ireland to learn English or for other reasons.

There will be 19 flights per week between Ireland and Abu Dhabi. What are we doing in this context? The Minister of State mentioned the visa waiver scheme, but it needs to be relaxed further so that we might encourage people to visit Ireland. There is a great deal of wealth in Abu Dhabi and its people have a natural affiliation with Ireland, as they view us as being pro-family. Arab nations are interested in families and in how Irish people go about their social and daily lives. We need to tap into their interest. This is not a niche that one will see in a tourism brochure or at a fair, but it is something that we must start doing.

In terms of sports tourism, I was involved in the concept of bringing the World Rally Championship to Ireland. I needed to jog alongside the then Minister, Mr. John O'Donoghue, to try to get his attention. The concept alone of Ireland bidding for the championship was laughable, much less winning it, much less again holding it in County Sligo. He would have hoovered it up for his constituency in County Kerry had he thought winning it was possible. It was the best championship in the world at the time. However, this was an issue for Fáilte Ireland and other bodies because rallying was not one of the chosen sports - the Volvo boat race, golf and so on - of the gin and tonic belts.

In these times of austerity when one has no money, the currency is people. Some 800 million people watched delayed coverage of the closing stages of the World Rally Championship at Mullaghmore in County Sligo. Instead of looking at Benbulben, those 800 million could have been looking at Slieve League or Croagh Patrick.

The Minister of State should pursue the ten most televised events in the world. They are not the big ones or as large as one would believe. Some 800 million people watch motor sport worldwide. I am not particularly an aficionado of it, but I got involved and, as a result, we had successful events. Unfortunately, we lost the championship due to personality issues, but it can be won again. An annual Government investment of €2 million could bring a round of the world championship to Ireland. I want it for the north west, but let us consider the bigger picture. Some 800 million people watched the delayed coverage of the final, but 50 million watched it live. This was more people than watched the rugby world cup final. It puts matters into perspective.

I have confidence in the Minister of State. He will be told that the boxes cannot be connected, that something cannot be done and that the money is not there. For years, I watched him slaughter Fianna Fáil Ministers. Many times he was right to do so. He should do the same to those who tell him this cannot be done and join the boxes. Carpe diem. The Minister of State can make the difference.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.