Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 30: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if the target of doubling overseas visitor spend by 2012 is still realistic in view of the changing world travel climate; if a review of plans to achieve that strategy is necessary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25640/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The Report of the Tourism Policy Review Group, New Horizons for Irish Tourism: An Agenda for Action, was published in September 2003. It set out a 10 year Strategy for the tourism sector and laid down ambitious targets for the industry namely, 10 million visitors per annum and €6 billion in foreign revenue earnings by 2012.

Following publication of the New Horizons Report, a high level group — the Tourism Action Plan Implementation Group — was appointed to oversee implementation of the Strategy and its final report in 2006 highlighted that good progress had been made on over 80% of the seventy six actions recommended by the Review Group in the initial two year action plan.

The progress report also pointed to a number of areas where progress had been less satisfactory, including pressure on competitiveness, the need for innovation and product development, variations in performance between urban and rural areas and the visitor experience at Dublin Airport.

A new Tourism Strategy Implementation Group was appointed in 2006 to oversee the implementation of the outstanding recommendations in the New Horizons report, to review the targets in the light of performance to date, and to recommend a possible framework for a mid term review due to take place next year.

The Implementation Group has met on a number of occasions and is working with the tourism industry and public sector bodies to help address a number of key areas of concern, including value for money, productivity and skills, sustainability, regional spread and product development.

2006 was a record year for Irish tourism with an all time high of 7.7 million overseas visitors to the country representing a 10.5% increase on 2005. The outcome was more than double the target of 5% growth which was set for the year. Foreign revenue earnings in 2006 were €4.7bn, an increase of almost 10% on 2005.

The Tourism Strategy Implementation Group is at present preparing a progress report, outlining achievements in the sector over the past two years and initiatives underway to address ongoing challenges. A key element in its report will be an analysis of the statistical targets set in the New Horizons report and progress toward achievement. Work to date shows that over the period 2002 to 2006 total overseas visitor numbers have grown slightly ahead of targets, while revenue in real terms has grown at a slower rate.