Tuesday, 1st November 2005

TOURISM BIG WINNER IN NEW TRANSPORT PLANS
Plans for Increased Regional Access Vital for Tourism Spread

The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) today gave a broad welcome to the €34.4 billion transport plan which, it states, will have major benefits for the growth of regional tourism if implemented within deadlines. The IHF states the creation of new regional road and rail access routes to the regions will increase tourism growth within the regions and assist reverse the current situation were there is a annual decline in motoring tourists visiting Ireland with cars. Already, in 2005 there is almost 10% reduction in motoring tourism. The IHF stated that quick and easy transport access is the life line to expanding the Irish tourism product now generating over €5billion revenue annually to the exchequer and employing in excess of 150,000 people. The lack of efficient, competitive, comfortable transport to and within regional areas, is a barrier impeding Ireland’s tourism success so it is imperative that the key provisions of this plan is delivered on time with none of the lengthy delays already experienced on some national projects.

The IHF in particular welcomed the reopening of the western rail corridor and the provisions for a new Atlantic Corridor stating that this will provide new transport links  enabling tourists to move more freely and quickly up and down the west of Ireland and allows the benefits and new developments at Shannon and Knock be exploited to their fullest.  It also stated that the metro line to connect Dublin Airport and the city was a critical infrastural deficit now being addressed.

According to John Power, Chief Executive, IHF in 2004, there has been industry concern in relation to regional access and whilst the 6.4 million overseas visitors to Ireland is a notable achievement, further growth especially in the regions was reliant on new transportation improvements.  Frequent and quality access to the regions has been a key factor in ensuring tourists gain access to key regional destinations. Low cost and ease of access to and within a destination, are major factors determining where a tourist chooses to goes and since the late 1990s the IHF has called on the Government to address regional transportation strategies to encourage a more even spread of tourism throughout the country.

"Adequate access is needed to ensure that key regions in Ireland benefit from our tourism success. Efficient road and rail networks will assist all regions grow their tourism potential.  Higher growth in tourism levels can be realistically achieved with new infrastructural improvements in and throughout the South West, West and North West. Ideally, our transport infrastructure should ensure that most tourist centres are no more than 2-2.5 hours from an international airport or car ferry port,” says John Power. 

The IHF maintains that roads are central to the flow of tourists and the National Roads Authority (NRA) has previously identified several key routes in the south west, west and north west for upgrading over the next 20 years. The IHF is calling for these routes to be given immediate priority to create a new Western Tourism Corridor to balance the current growth in tourism. "

It has been a concern for some time that the regions are not fulfilling their potential and growing in line with national tourism growth. Today’s announcement will assist change this but the plan must be implemented swiftly and with no delays or overruns. We would suggest the Government should avail of Public Private Partnerships and other innovative funding mechanisms to provide the incentive for the private sector to participate in the provision of this vital infrastructure on time and within budget,” says John Power.    

Mr Power concluded that adequate, efficient transport links from airports and seaports to tourism locations, whether city centre or rural destinations, is essential to get people to where they want to go  quickly and easily.  This new plan is a substantial step forward in achieving that objective.

ENDS

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