Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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23. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the outlook for the 2023 tourism year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56894/22]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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International travel has rebounded more quickly than anticipated this year and Tourism Ireland estimates that overseas tourism to Ireland in 2022 is currently tracking towards 75% of 2019 levels. This represents a remarkable recovery of inbound tourism since restrictions were lifted.

Internationally, tourism continues to recover steadily yet several challenges remain, from geopolitical to economic. The combination of increasing interest rates in all major economies, rising energy and food prices and the growing prospects of a global recession, as indicated by the World Bank, are major threats to the recovery of international tourism through the remainder of 2022 and 2023. Hotel capacity and labour shortages will continue to challenge the tourism industry here in Ireland in 2023. Nonetheless, the latest round of Tourism Ireland research gives cause for optimism for overseas tourism next year. The research, carried out in 10 important tourism markets, shows that the desire to travel is stronger than ever.

In Budget 2023 I secured additional funding of €15 million for overseas marketing of Ireland. As global competition heightens, sustaining extensive marketing campaigns will be vital to support the on-going recovery effort, building on the initial inbound tourism demand seen this year. Ensuring the resilience and growth of this demand is vital to the industry, to jobs and to communities’ right across the island of Ireland.

Next year Tourism Ireland will roll out an extensive, highly targeted programme of promotions. This will include the roll-out of a new global campaign, high profile broadcast opportunities in international media, social media and digital marketing, as well as working with the industry and travel trade overseas to facilitate sales.

An additional €15 million has also been allocated to Fáilte Ireland, which will underpin a range of measures to support the sector in 2023, including domestic marketing, transforming the digital capabilities of tourism businesses, boosting the industry’s recruitment and retention efforts, sustainable tourism initiatives, long-term investment in the US College Football Classic series, and the establishment of a register of short-term letting properties as part of the Government’s “Housing for All” reforms.

While the sector faces many challenges, I am confident that the supports that the Government has put in place will ensure that Ireland's tourism industry is well positioned to maintain current levels of recovery and to grow sustainably in the coming years.