Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

952. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline the work his Department has done to increase cross-Border tourism; if any work is underway to market the Newry, Mourne, Gullion, Cooley and Dundalk areas as a tourism destination within Ireland’s Ancient East; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43438/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Enhancing cross-border cooperation and connections is a key ambition of this Government and tourism is an important asset towards achieving this goal.

By continuing to support the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, the Government seeks to strengthen Ireland’s reputation as a high-quality, accessible destination for both domestic and international visitors while also further integrating tourism offerings on an all-island basis.

The All-Island Strategic Tourism Group, established in 2024, is co-chaired by senior officials in the Department and the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland and has representatives from the three tourism agencies on the Island including Tourism Northern Ireland. The group provides a strategic approach, aligned to policy priorities, for the development and further integration of tourism offerings on an all-island basis, including collaboration in relation to regional tourism experience brands.

At the North South Ministerial Council Tourism Sectoral in April, together with the Minister for the Economy, Minister Archibald, I noted the ongoing collaboration between the tourism agencies on the €7.6 million Shared Island fund, granted in 2023, for the Wild Atlantic Way and Causeway Coastal route tourism brand collaboration project.

In relation to cross-border tourism initiatives, the next phase of the Shared Island programme under the Shared Destinations projects 2025-2030 will see development within three projects across the border region – Carlingford Lough, Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Geopark and Sliabh Beagh – and a Tourism Ireland International Marketing and Development Programme to maximise the economic impact for each area.

Fáilte Ireland and Tourism NI have indicated that there is an opportunity for greater synergy across the northern half of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and Ireland’s Ancient East with experiences in Northern Ireland. For the visitor, this will offer a more seamless experience and encourage them to stay longer, supporting the regional dispersal ambitions and sustainable development goals that are key tenets of our tourism policies and strategies.

The Government is also committed to completing construction of the Narrow Water Bridge - supporting the local authorities on both sides of the Bridge in developing the new tourism opportunities it will bring; and to collaborating with partners north and south of the border to expand blueways, enhancing water-based tourism and recreational opportunities.

County Louth is included in Ireland’s Ancient East Regional Tourism Development Strategy 2023 – 2027. Regional Tourism Development Strategies are being activated across every region through a series of local area action plans, referred to as Destination and Experience Development Plans (DEDPs).

The ‘Ancient’ Destination Experience Development Plan (DEDP), which was launched in May 2021, is a five-year plan designed to be a roadmap for enhancing the existing visitor proposition to achieve the objectives of addressing seasonality, increasing visitor numbers, improving dwell time and visitor dispersion in the Boyne Valley and surrounding areas.

Amongst the achievements in the region referred to be the Deputy includes the development of an outdoor Destination Orientation Development Plan for Carlingford and the Cooley Peninsula. Fáilte Ireland is also presently conducting a mid-term review of the Ancient DEDP to ensure it is updated to reflect present day opportunities.