Written answers

Wednesday, 31 May 2006

Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism

Tourism Promotion

9:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 87: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the extent to which he foresees the development and promotion of the tourism industry here through the medium of film making with particular reference to filming on location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21272/06]

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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Tourism Ireland and the Irish Film Board are continuing to develop joint activities such as trade missions, familiarisation tours and marketing activities to maximise the links between Ireland's on-screen presence in film and television and tourist interest that follows.

Recently, Tourism Ireland directly assisted several film and television productions that have clear potential tourism outcomes, such as a German tele-movie shot in Kerry and a Dublin travelogue programme. Tourism Ireland was also instrumental in attracting a highly-popular South African soap series to film material in Wicklow recently.

Considerable potential exists for collaboration between Tourism Ireland and the Irish Film Board in the Indian film market and Ireland has experienced some initial interest as a location for 'Bollywood' productions. Following my recent visit to India in January, I was delighted to welcome a delegation of Indian film producers to Ireland in April.

The benefits to be gained from bringing such productions to Ireland, in terms of tourism, can be gauged from the fact that it is estimated that Switzerland attracts about 75,000 visitors from India each year and the filming of 'Bollywood' productions in the country is a major factor in this.

The recent approval by the European Commission of the enhancements the Government have made to the section 481 scheme for investment in film production will underline the attractiveness of Ireland to film-makers and can only serve to improve the potential gains to tourism from such activity.

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