Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator McGahon for raising the very important issue of the Carlingford Lough ferry. He has outlined the ferry's value and importance to the local community. I was delighted to be in Omeath, County Louth, with the Senator last year to mark the beginning of an €11 million investment by Irish Water to improve the water quality in Carlingford Lough. This huge investment is very important for this key infrastructure for Border communities.

Transport links, such as the Carlingford Lough ferry, are key enablers for the sustainable growth of domestic and cross-Border tourism in Ireland. It should be noted at the outset that while ferry companies and all forms of transport are critically important for cross-Border tourism, transport services extend beyond that into the tourism sector. Responsibility for transport services falls with the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan.

The island of Ireland has a truly wonderful offering for visitors. There are world-class experiences across the entire island from the Wild Atlantic Way to the Causeway Coastal Route, and from the region that comprises Ireland's Ancient East to the walled city of Derry and so much more. Prior to the pandemic, 2019 was one of the best years ever for Irish tourism when we welcomed 11 million international visitors to the island of Ireland. The importance of tourism to the economy on both sides of the Border, and the clear logic in taking a joint approach to promote and develop the sector, led to tourism being one of the key areas chosen for formal North-South co-operation through the structures created by the Good Friday Agreement. That co-operation has been hugely beneficial, with the tourism sector now an exemplar of what can be achieved when we work together on this island with shared purpose and for clear mutual benefit.

There is a great opportunity for tourism potential into the future through further development of cross-Border tourism on this island. There has been extensive engagement between the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, which has Deputy Catherine Martin as Minister, and the Department of the Taoiseach regarding the shared island funding, with the result that €7.6 million has been allocated for a new all-island tourism brand collaboration and marketing initiative, connecting the Causeway Coastal Route and the Wild Atlantic Way in the north west. This project will be developed and implemented over the next three years and will build on the international reputations of those two magnificent tourist routes. I understand that a project team has been established, including representatives of the tourism agencies on the island who will work together to connect those two internationally recognised brands and achieve longer visitor stays and greater economic benefits in the north west and Northern coastal regions. The development of this project will further enhance North-South co-operation in tourism, which has been hugely beneficial to the industry across the island.

Through Tourism Ireland, we have developed a hugely successful approach to promoting our collective tourism offering to markets all around the world, which sustains and creates jobs in the sector in towns, cities and regions across both jurisdictions on the island. Tourism Ireland promotes the island of Ireland in more than 21 markets overseas as a compelling holiday destination, using the Ireland brand to position the island as strongly as possible against more than 200 other destinations with which Ireland competes. Tourism Ireland promotes the experience brands, including the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, Ireland’s Ancient East, Dublin and Northern Ireland’s Embrace a Giant Spirit, on a range of platforms, including online, via publicity and through overseas trade platforms.

North-South engagement and collaboration in the area of tourism has added value to the marketing of the island to potential overseas visitors to both jurisdictions. Significant achievements over this time include the development of screen tourism through Game of Thrones, and more recently opportunities arising from the success of "An Cailín Ciúin" and "The Banshees of Inisherin". Screen tourism will be leveraged extensively by Tourism Ireland throughout 2023.

Sport-related tourism has emerged as a very significant element in world tourism, with a multimillion euro market and a huge potential for countries that position themselves correctly. High-profile sporting events, such as The Open returning to Royal Portrush in 2025 and the Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in 2027, will provide a unique opportunity to highlight the island of Ireland as a wonderful holiday destination, as well as a top location for sporting events.