John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if a review of the implementation of the tourism policy review group, New Horizons for Irish Tourism: An Agenda for Action, is currently being carried out; when it will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4887/08]

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 drive forward implementation of the Strategy for an initial two-year period. 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.

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 in 2008. The Implementation Group has met on a number of occasions and has worked with the tourism industry and public sector bodies to help address a number of key areas, including, value for money, productivity and skills, sustainability, regional spread and product development.

I am advised that the Tourism Strategy Implementation Group is at present preparing to report to me on progress, outlining achievements and developments in the sector over the past two years and initiatives underway to address ongoing challenges. The Group will report on developments in relation to its terms of reference, including

implementation of the outstanding elements of the strategy set out in New Horizons for Irish Tourism: An Agenda for Action

a review of the targets set out in New Horizons for Irish Tourism in light of the performance to end-2006; and

recommendations on the scope and methodology for a mid-term review of the strategy which will be carried out in 2008.

I expect to receive the report of the Group shortly and I will consider how best to implement the mid-term review of the Tourism Strategy in light of its recommendations.