Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 62: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he has identified the primary factors deemed to be impeding the development of the tourist industry; the measures taken or steps he will take to address any such issues; the degree to which he expects the tourism business to expand as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13685/11]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 222: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the objectives for the development of the tourism sector with particular reference to its role in economic recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13928/11]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 223: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his vision for the development of the tourism industry; the initiatives he proposes to take in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13929/11]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 228: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to address costs issues in the tourism industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13934/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 62, 222, 223 and 228 together.

There is no doubt that, like other export sectors, the tourism industry faces many challenges, in particular the economic difficulties in our key source markets and contractions in international air access. Notwithstanding these challenges, the Government has recognised that tourism has the potential to be a key driver of economic recovery and that is why it has placed such emphasis on tourism in the Programme for Government and the recent Jobs Initiative.

In the Jobs Initiative, the Government announced that it will reduce the level of VAT applied to a range of labour-intensive tourism services to 9%, providing a much needed support and a competitive boost to tourism. The Government has also taken steps to promote inward bound tourism through

abolishing the travel tax conditional on clear commitments by airlines to increase inbound capacity from our source markets;

the offer by the Dublin Airport Authority of significant rebates on passenger charges for extra passengers brought in by airlines; and

more targeted co-operative marketing of new routes from key source tourism markets by Tourism Ireland, DAA and the airlines to encourage more tourists to fly into Ireland.

A number of initiatives have also been taken to promote domestic tourism including

a €1m Discover Ireland Summer promotional campaign;

special fares promotions from Irish Rail;

making available 750,000 Discover Ireland guides with special offers for home holidays as well as a revamped Discover Ireland website and other technology initiatives such as a smartphone app.

In addition, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has brought in Ireland's first formal Visa Waiver Programme that will facilitate and encourage tourism to Ireland from key emerging markets.

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the Central Statistics Office recently released tourism figures for the first three months of 2011 which show the first increase in three years in overseas visitors to Ireland. Overseas visitors to Ireland increased by 8.6% compared to the same period in 2010. In particular, there is good news from our most important market, Great Britain, which showed an increase of 7.2% as well as North America which is up by almost 12%. I am hopeful that growth will continue for the rest of the year. The highly successful visits of Queen Elizabeth II and US President Barack Obama were broadcast around the world. I do not think any advertising campaign could compare with these positive images and the State tourism agencies will be working hard to capitalise on this positive exposure.