Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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631. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to explain the reason for the lack of marketing of the south east, midlands and east coast in 2014; and his plans to promote these areas in 2015. [37042/14]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Responsibility for marketing the island of Ireland as a visitor destination in overseas markets is a day-to-day matter for Tourism Ireland, a cross-border body established under the Good Friday Agreement.

In 2014, Tourism Ireland has undertaken extensive promotional activity to promote the South East, Midlands and East Coast regions as it seeks to build on the return to growth in overseas tourism achieved in recent years.  This includes:

- participation by tourism enterprises from the regions concerned at major consumer and travel trade fairs, and travel trade missions;

- familiarisation visits to the South East, Midlands and East Coast regions for influential travel and lifestyle journalists from around the world; and

- a programme of fact-finding visits to the South East, Midlands and East Coast regions for overseas tour operators, travel agents and business tourism buyers.

Fáilte Ireland is the agency with responsibility for the development of the tourism industry in Ireland.  The agency is currently developing a unifying tourism proposition for those counties in the east and south of Ireland. These areas share a rich historic built environment, for example Viking Waterford, Medieval Kilkenny and Brú na Boinne.  This project will group the cultural and heritage tourism assets of Ireland’s East and South via a network of routes, trails and journeys into a new tourism experience that will appeal to overseas visitors. The project is expected to be launched in early 2015.

In terms of other activities to promote tourism to these areas, I am also referring the Deputy's question to Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland for further information.  Please contact my private office if a response is not received within ten working days.