Written answers

Wednesday, 12 December 2018

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Tourism Industry

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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226. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the full extent of growth within the tourism sector with particular reference to the number of persons employed; the scope for further development resulting in employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52458/18]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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229. 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. [52461/18]

Photo of Shane RossShane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 226 and 229 together.

There has been significant growth in tourism in recent years with 2018 expected to be another record breaking year for the sector in Ireland.

In 2014, prior to the publication of the Government's national tourism policy "People, Place and Policy: Growing Tourism to 2025", Fáilte Ireland estimated total revenue generated by tourism at €6.85bn.  By 2017, this figure had grown by 29% to €8.84bn. The main driver in this significant increase is the growth in overseas tourism revenue from €3.6bn in 2014 to over €4.9bn in 2017. All of our main overseas markets experienced growth over the period with North America and Mainland Europe performing particularly well. There seems little doubt at this stage that 2018 will see further growth in revenue from overseas visitors and tourism overall.

All parts of Ireland have seen the benefits of this growth in tourism and it is one of our largest indigenous industries and a vital employer in the regions.  It is deeply rooted in the fabric of Irish society, with Fáilte Ireland estimating that tourism now supports approximately 260,000 jobs across the economy, compared to 205,000 in 2014.

While the industry has gone from strength to strength in recent years, there is always scope for development and expansion on a sustainable basis. In terms of our tourism offering,  the main areas with very strong potential for future development and expansion are Attractions, Activities, Festivals and Business Tourism.  Fáilte Ireland is focussing its efforts on two key areas - ‘Experience Development’ and the promotion of its brands of scale and singularity – Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s Ancient East, Dublin, its newest brand Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and Meet in Ireland – the business tourism brand. These brands are designed to differentiate Ireland in a very competitive international marketplace.

Tourism Ireland undertakes marketing campaigns in more than 20 overseas markets with priority markets being Mainland Europe, North America, Britain and fast-growing Emerging Markets such as China. It has recently carried out strategic market reviews in conjunction with island of Ireland industry partners and sister agencies, for the Emerging Markets, USA and Germany. I have allocated increased funding to the agency in 2019 to commence implementation of these market strategies. This will help us to continue to grow overseas tourism in a targeted manner over the coming years.

Overall, therefore, the tourism sector is well placed for further development. I will shortly publish a Tourism Action Plan for the period 2019-2021 which will set out a  number of actions to enable the sector to grow in a sustainable manner, with a particular emphasis on regional performance and seasonality, which will result in further job creation in all parts of Ireland.

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