Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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840. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he expects the tourism industry to expand in the current year having regard to the performance in previous years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8295/14]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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841. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which it is expected to attract new tourism to this country in the current and coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8296/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 840 and 841 together.

Figures published recently by the CSO show that 2013 was an excellent year for Irish tourism with the total number of overseas visits growing by 7.2%. All of our main markets grew compared to 2012 and we enjoyed our highest ever number of visits from North America.

 In terms of targets for 2014, the approved Tourism Ireland Business Plan for 2014 contains a target of growing visit numbers to Ireland by a further 4% this year and growing the associated revenue from these overseas visits by 7%. As part of its actions to reach this target, Tourism Ireland will be undertaking extensive marketing campaigns throughout 2014.

 Furthermore, I am confident that measures such as the retention of the lower VAT rate for tourism services, the reduction of the air travel tax to zero from April and the increased air access to Ireland will also help to ensure that the targets are met.

  In relation to generating additional tourism activity in future years, the approved Tourism Ireland Corporate Plan 2014-2016 includes a target of increasing overseas visits by 13% by 2016 compared to 2013.  The Plan contains a range of actions to achieve this target, in areas such as destination branding, consumer engagement, and collaboration with other agencies and commercial partners.