Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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46. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if an update will be provided on the tourism strategy of the Government in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10335/22]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The primary focus over the course of the last two years in relation to tourism has been on the survival of the sector. As our economy and society opens up, we have an opportunity to reconfigure our tourism sector and to more meaningfully address sustainable development and management within the tourism ecosystem.

In this regard my Department has initiated the development of a new national tourism policy that will seek to mainstream sustainability. The development of this new policy will involve extensive consultation with the tourism industry and our communities to help set out a path for the coming years which will support a sustainable recovery and subsequent growth in the sector.

I reconvened the Sustainable Tourism Working Group early last year to complete the development of a suite of actions that promote sustainable tourism practices which can be implemented prior to a new policy being developed. I brought the Group’s report to Government in October and it was subsequently published online at www.gov.ie/en/publication/c0cd3-sustainable-tourism-working-group-report/.

The successful implementation of the actions identified in this interim action plan will establish new research methods, which will increase the level of evidence available, and form a clear narrative for communicating about the sustainability agenda to build a better understanding and awareness among tourism stakeholders and the general public. It will also ensure that sustainability is taken into account in policy development, business planning by the tourism agencies and industry as well as in destination management and promotional activity.

The development of our new national tourism policy will build upon the work undertaken by the Sustainable Tourism Working Group and also be consistent with our sectoral climate change targets and commitments. This policy commitment will seek to deliver on Ireland’s ambition to be among the world-leaders in sustainable tourism practices from not only an environmental but also a social and economic perspective.