Fine Gael TD for Dublin Fingal, Alan Farrell has stated that the new tourism policy, ‘People, Place and Policy – Growing Tourism to 2025’, which has been launched by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe TD, will be of great benefit to Dublin Fingal.
“The new tourism policy aims to increase the number of overseas visitors to 10 million from 7.6 million in 2014 and generate €5 billion per year in 2025, from €3.5 billion in 2014; this revenue excludes air fares and ferry charges. This would also allow for employment in the tourism sector to increase to 250,000 from its current level of 200,000.
“The ‘People, Place, Policy – Growing Tourism to 2025’ strategy confirms this Government’s commitment to promoting tourism as a means of economic growth. Dublin Fingal, with the presence of Dublin Airport, is in a prime position to benefit from any increase in the number of overseas visitors and the amount of revenue generated through tourism.
“With so many scenic destinations in the North County, Blue Flag beaches like those in Donabate, Portrane, Portmarnock and Skerries, attractions including the Fry Model Collection in Malahide, and heritage properties like Malahide Castle, Newbridge and Ardgillan, we will undoubtedly experience an increase in the number of tourists visiting Dublin Fingal as a result of this new policy. Such growth of visitor numbers will inevitably increase the amount of money being spent in our local economy. This will not only be great news for businesses in the hospitality industry, but will also provide support to SMEs throughout Dublin Fingal which will assist them in strengthening and growing their business.
“Figures release from the Central Statistics Office this week have outlined that the tourism growth trends which Ireland has experienced over the past four years show no signs of abating with 2015 set to be a fifth successive year of continued increase. The number of overseas visits to Ireland between December 2014 and February 2015 rose 10.3% in comparison with the corresponding period of 2013/2014. Visits from Mainland Europe were up by 18.1%, trips from Great Britain increased by 7.7% and from North America by 6.6%.
“This Government is committed to tourism growth as part of our continued economic recovery and the three headlines targets of the new tourism policy, to be achieved by 2025, will certainly benefit communities throughout the North County and provide a boost to our local economy.”