Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 165: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his attention has been drawn to the comments by the chief executive officer of Tourism Ireland that the current economic climate in the tourism industry is having a greater impact in the mid-west region; the steps he will take to address this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9374/10]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the comments referred to by the Deputy which I understand were made in response to a specific question posed by a journalist at a regional tourism event organised by Fáilte Ireland, and related to preliminary estimates of overseas visitor numbers to the regions to end-September 2009. I have acknowledged on many occasions that we are currently in a very challenging period for Irish tourism. Ireland has not been immune from the significant reduction in tourism numbers internationally and all areas of the country have seen declines in visitor numbers due primarily to the continued pressures on consumer spending and exchange rate challenges in our main target overseas markets. Figures published yesterday by the Central Statistics Office show that the number of overseas visitors to Ireland in 2009 fell by 11.6% compared to 2008.

Regarding the particular challenges facing the Mid-West, as the Deputy will be aware, responsibility for developing tourism in specific regions is a matter for the Tourism State Agencies. An extensive range of marketing, product development, festival and sporting events, training and business supports are being put in place by these Agencies this year under the Tourism Services budget of the Department. Including capital allocations for product investment and other tourism development expenditure, the overall Tourism Services Budget stands at over €153m for 2010 - an increase of 3% on 2009. This increased allocation of public resources in the current difficult budgetary situation is clear recognition by Government of the important role that the tourism and hospitality sector will play in Ireland's economic recovery. €44.25m is being provided this year for the Tourism Marketing Fund. Within this fund, funding for regional campaigns is being maintained at 2009 levels – including the promotion of the wider Shannon Airport catchment. This will allow Tourism Ireland to continue to promote the mid west vigorously and extensively through its ongoing global marketing activity and through specific, additional campaigns undertaken for the region in the United States and, to a lesser extent, in Great Britain.

In 2010, Fáilte Ireland, the national tourism development authority, will partner with businesses in the Mid West and Shannon region to help them grow their turnover, cut their costs, better manage cashflow and restructure their debt burden through a range of practical business supports. Furthermore, Fáilte Ireland's range of 2010 activities - a new home holiday campaign, overseas regional marketing in key markets, capital investment in tourism projects, product development, business tourism promotion, festivals and events supports – will benefit tourism in general including the industry in the Shannon region. Finally, the Department's direct funding to Shannon Development has been maintained at its 2009 level. I am confident that the necessary supports are in place to ensure that the target of returning Irish tourism to growth in the short term will be met and the Mid-west region will also benefit from the positive supports as outlined above.