It identified tourism as a winning sector where Ireland has proven success, a natural advantage and world-class potential. So far so good. It then went on to suggest the following:
- The need to develop a strategic plan for the sector with specific targets and actions plans
- A reduction in access costs though the sale of many of our airports and ferry ports to private operators and the complete abolition of the €3 tourist tax
- The amalgamation of Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland
- A marketing blitz to be conducted in existing and emerging markets
- Support for new initiatives in product development such as activity and adventure centres and the opening of great houses and gardens
- An extension to our gaming facilities
- A leveraging of our sporting assests to drive tourism
While I'm glad that the potential of the tourism sector has been recognised by this group, it is disappointing that there is nothing new or innovative in the above proposals. Furthermore, the employment potential of the sector is completely underestimated. It says that the sector is capable of delivering 20,000 extra jobs over the next four years. However, 83,666 jobs were lost in the sector between 2007 and 2009. As I said in an previous post, 100,000 jobs could be created if visitor numbers were returned to 2007 levels.
So I don't think that a new strategic plan is what's required just yet. We need to start with a new vision.
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