Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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647. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he expects employment in the tourism sector to increase worldwide in the future; the likely economic benefit to this country arising therefrom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5012/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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In Ireland, the most recent CSO figures show that employment in the key accommodation and food services sector has increased by over 18,000 between the third quarter of 2011 and the third quarter of 2014.  Overall employment in the tourism sector is estimated to be in the region of 200,000 jobs.

A new Tourism Policy Statement entitled “People, Place and Policy – Growing Tourism to 2025” was presented to Cabinet by me on 14th January last and was approved by the Government.  The Policy Statement, which will be published shortly, includes a goal to increase employment in the tourism sector by 50,000 jobs between now and 2025.

Figures published by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation indicate that there were 1.138 billion international tourist arrivals in 2014, and the UNWTO predicts that this will increase to 1.8 billion by 2030.  The UNWTO also estimates that 1 in every 11 jobs worldwide is supported by travel and tourism.

While the focus of Tourism Ireland's overseas marketing activity will continue to be on the consumer segments that are most likely to visit Ireland, obviously the economic situation in Ireland's key overseas tourism markets will always be a significant factor in our own tourism performance.  It is reasonable to expect that growth in employment will reflect overall improved economic performance and hence an increase in outward tourism from any particular country.