Wednesday, 24 April 2002

NEW NATIONAL TOURISM BODY WELCOMED BY IHF

The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) today welcomed the publication of a report to establish the New Tourism Development Authority and the statement by the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation that he is giving priority to the drafting of legislation to give legal effect to the new body. The report published today by the Implementation Group on the Establishment of the New Tourism Development Authority, suggests a number of steps to be implemented so that the new body, with a budget allocation of €70 million will be in place for the 2003 season. The IHF stated it hopes that the new Dáil, when in place, would implement the legislation to establish the Authority as envisaged in the report.

The IHF, the largest industry group in the tourism sector stated that a new national agency with a clear brief for training and recruitment, product development, marketing and standards will augment the overseas tourism marketing activities, being carried out by Tourism Ireland Limited.

According to Jim Murphy, President, IHF, the people, place, service standards and the pace of Ireland are the core assets of the Irish tourist product. It is essential that an effective national development agency is in place as soon as possible to assist and guide the tourist industry through effective training, product development and regional promotion programmes.

"It is imminently sensible that, with people being so important to the tourist product, the activities of CERT should be brought closer to the retained functions of Bord Fáilte - product and regional development and promotion," says Jim Murphy.

The Federation maintains that this new entity would also provide an opportunity to invigorate domestic tourism marketing activities whilst improving the efficiency and impact of the Regional Tourism Authorities, in the overall objective of benefiting Ireland's largest unsubsidised industry.

Mr Murphy concluded that the tourist industry is facing major challenges to recover from the events of 2001. The Federation maintains that it is now essential that the resources available to support and develop tourism are used to its greatest effect.

"If the bringing together of CERT and Bord Fáilte can improve the effectiveness of the Government's spend on tourism, it will be an exercise well worth completing," he concludes.

NOTE: Irish tourism in Ireland supports 145,000 jobs. 6.3million overseas visitors came to Ireland in 2000. Tourism generated £4 billion in revenue to the State in 2000.

For Further Information:
Siobhan Molloy/Colette Walsh Tel: (01) 676 01 68
FCC Shandwick (086) 817 50 66 or (086) 2765 856