Written answers

Tuesday, 21 June 2022

Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Tourism Policy

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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74. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department has undertaken work on a circular economy strategy for the tourism sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32201/22]

Photo of Catherine MartinCatherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The Circular Economy Strategy is a key addition to the Government’s drive to achieve a 51% reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and to get on a path to reach net-zero emissions by no later than 2050, as per commitments in the Programme for Government and the Climate Act 2021. 

Officials  in my Department have commenced work on a new national tourism policy which will place sustainability at the heart of tourism in Ireland going forward.  To maintain momentum on the sustainable tourism agenda, the Sustainable Tourism Working  Group prepared an interim action plan which I brought to Government late last year. The report identified a suite of actions that aims to promote sustainable tourism practices out to 2023. These actions are being delivered by my Department, the tourism agencies and the tourism sector.

Addressing climate action is a strategic priority for Fáilte Ireland and their aim is to drive change at the level of the business and the destination to ensure that tourism plays its part in reducing emissions. Measures include the development of a bespoke carbon calculator which will allow tourism businesses to measure and understand their carbon footprint, set targets for emission reductions and benchmark their business both with themselves over time and other tourism businesses.  

Understanding the imperative of a step change required at the level of the business, Fáilte Ireland has already designed a suite of tactical supports around food waste, water and energy that provides businesses with the relevant and necessary advice and guidance to action the imbalance and ensure that positive change can happen.  

Fáilte Ireland is working to produce a ‘Climate Action Roadmap’ along with a series of guides to explain sustainable tourism and in particular, to set out the areas of climate action required to reduce carbon emissions. It will focus on the priority areas including energy, water and food waste, explaining the terminology and provides practical tips and advice on how to start and progress the journey. A range of best in class case studies will demonstrate the net benefits to starting on the sustainability journey and a repository housing all the latest information and advice is also being developed. Fáilte Ireland plans to launch this later in 2022.

I can also confirm that Tourism Ireland will create new sales and marketing opportunities for those sustainable tourism businesses that want to grow their international business.

Finally, officials in my Department have commenced work on a new national tourism policy which will place sustainability at the heart of tourism in Ireland going forward. The policy will align with the Circular Economy Strategy.

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