Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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167. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which the tourism sector has contributed to national economic recovery; if he is satisfied with the adequacy of the provisions already in place to facilitate the future development and expansion of the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39726/15]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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168. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the areas in the tourism sector that have shown the greatest potential for future development and expansion, both internally and externally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39727/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 168 together.

Tourism continues to contribute significantly to Ireland's economic recovery.  CSO figures for the first nine months of 2015 show that there were over 6.64 million overseas visits to Ireland, an increase of 12.5% on the same nine-month period of 2014.

This growth in overseas visits has been accompanied by strong growth in overseas tourism revenue from all the main markets. The most recent CSO Quarterly Tourism and Travel publication shows that spending in Ireland by overseas visitors (excluding air fares or ferry charges) for the first half of 2015 increased by 16.2%, compared to the same 6-month period in 2014.

Research that has been carried out on behalf of the tourism agencies and tourism industry has found that certain market segments have a higher likelihood to select Ireland as a destination. Tourism Ireland's overseas marketing activity is weighted towards these segments in order to provide the best return on marketing investment.

In addition, the tourism brand experiences that have been developed by Fáilte Ireland, for example the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland's Ancient East, and the new brand experience for Dublin – A Breath of Fresh Air – are all constructed to meet the needs of the most promising consumer segments in overseas source markets.

The Government's Tourism Policy Statement "People, Place and Policy – Growing Tourism to 2025" was launched in March of this year. The main targets contained in the Tourism Policy Statement, to be achieved by 2025, are as follows:

-Overseas tourism revenue to increase to €5 billion net of inflation, compared to €3.5 billion in 2014;

-Overseas visits to Ireland to increase to ten million, compared to 7.6 million in 2014; and

-250,000 people to be employed in the tourism sector, compared to 205,000 at present.

Earlier this year, I appointed a Tourism Leadership Group, to put in place a Tourism Action Plan that will set out the actions required in the period to 2018 to achieve the overall objectives in "People, Place and Policy – Growing Tourism to 2025".  I intend to publish the Tourism Action Plan in the first quarter of 2016.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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169. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he expects to be in a position to use sport as a means of promoting tourism and investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39728/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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​Sports events can generate additional international visits and help put Ireland onto travel itineraries as a holiday destination.  Accordingly, I am supportive of the ongoing efforts of the Tourism Agencies and the National Governing Bodies of Sport, in conjunction with their colleagues in Northern Ireland where appropriate, to attract international events and to support other events, both participatory and spectator, subject, of course, to an assessment of the costs and benefits involved. 

During 2015 €10 million of sports tourism business was confirmed and the current pipeline is strong with an estimated value of up to €70 million of confirmed and potential events for Ireland to 2020. This includes the high profile events such as the College Football Classic (Boston College Vs Georgia Tech) next September which will bring in an estimated 15,000 visitors.

The IRFU has also been successful in its bid to host the Women's Rugby World Cup in 2017 and the Government and the Northern Ireland Executive are supporting the preparation of a joint bid to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023.  We can also look forward to staging part of the UEFA EURO 2020 soccer championships.  

We will continue to look for opportunities to grow tourism and develop sport in Ireland by hosting sports events with overseas revenue generating potential.  I have asked Fáilte Ireland to provide the Deputy with further details regarding upcoming sports tourism events supported by them.  Please notify my private office if you do not receive a reply from Fáilte Ireland within ten working days.