Press release
Minister Martin welcomes Tourism Recovery Plan
From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, today (6 October 2020) welcomed the publication of the Tourism Recovery Plan 2020 - 2023 from the Tourism Recovery Taskforce.
Tourism is one of the most directly affected sectors in the current pandemic. COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on employment and the viability of thousands of businesses in Irish tourism. A Tourism Recovery Taskforce was appointed in May to prepare a Tourism Recovery Plan including recommendations on how best the Irish tourism sector can adapt and recover in a changed tourism environment as a result of the crisis.
As part of its work, the Taskforce undertook a widespread stakeholder consultation process which was very helpful in generating ideas and inputs for its final report. The Taskforce has now completed its work and its Chairperson, Ms. Ruth Andrews, submitted the Recovery Plan to the Minister last week. The Plan was noted by Government earlier today. You can view the plan in full here.
The Taskforce makes a number of recommendations, both to help ensure the survival of tourism businesses and jobs and also to help the sector to stabilise and recover in the years to come. Within this, it has identified a number of priority recommendations aimed at ensuring the survival of tourism businesses and jobs, in areas such as:
Commenting on the report, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD stated:
"I very much welcome the Recovery Plan submitted by the Tourism Recovery Taskforce and thank each and every member of the Taskforce for their time, expertise and commitment in this hugely difficult time. I met with the Taskforce in one of my first days in office and was struck both by the members’ dedication and also the seriousness of the situation facing tourism. I have since met with the Chairperson, Ruth Andrews, on a couple of occasions and have been kept informed as to progress.
"The Taskforce was tasked with coming up with recommendations that can help the tourism sector to survive the crisis and recover in a stable manner. Its Recovery Plan will be hugely beneficial to me and my colleagues in Government as we examine ways to help the tourism sector emerge from the very difficult position in which it finds itself. I note in particular the Taskforce’s assessment that, of the 260,000 jobs in the sector prior to the pandemic, 180,000 jobs are either lost or vulnerable. I am under no illusions about the scale of the challenge and the many competing priorities facing Government. However, as we work towards the Budget and the National Economic Plan, I will be pushing hard for further support for the sector following on from the measures I introduced as part of the July Stimulus package."
Ruth Andrews, Chairperson of the Tourism Recovery Taskforce, added:
"I am delighted that the Tourism Recovery Taskforce has completed our work and submitted the Recovery Plan to the Minister. I must give a huge thanks to my colleagues on the Taskforce who committed so much time and effort in a period which was so difficult and full of uncertainty. I would also like to thank all those who made submissions during the consultation stage, all of which were a significant influence on the Taskforce’s deliberations.
"The impact of COVID-19 on tourism has been existential, devastating employment, businesses and livelihoods across the sector. Nevertheless, even in these incredibly difficult times, I and my colleagues on the Taskforce are confident that the Irish tourism industry can recover and develop as a world leader in sustainable tourism practices.
"Tourism is as integral to the national economic recovery now as it was in the last recession. The sector is uniquely positioned to contribute strongly to job creation and reversing unemployment in communities and among the young throughout the country. This recovery provides an opportunity to strengthen the industry and reaffirm the importance of the sector as an economic driver and export led industry.
"Taking the necessary action now can save and restore jobs and income and avoid the need for long-term State intervention to support those left behind by the crisis. The TRT strongly believes that with the right investment and support, particularly in the survival phase, tourism can retain capacity, skills and strategic assets that will strengthen the pace of recovery when restrictions are eased to enable international tourism. We look forward to working with Government to make this happen."
ENDS
Tourism is one of the most directly affected sectors in the current crisis. The impact of COVID-19 on tourism globally has been overwhelming and immediate with unprecedented consequences for Ireland’s tourism and hospitality sector. The pandemic and the consequential public health measures have devastated the sector here and it is estimated that, of 260,000 jobs in the sector prior to COVID-19, 180,000 are either lost or vulnerable.
A Tourism Recovery Taskforce was appointed in May to prepare a Tourism Recovery Plan which includes a set of recommendations on how best the Irish Tourism sector can adapt and recover in a changed tourism environment as a result of the crisis.
The Taskforce comprised an independent chairperson and 13 other members from a broad spectrum of backgrounds including tourism policy, tourism enterprise, international, private and public service. The membership of the Taskforce is as follows:
The Taskforce has been highly engaged in the period since its establishment with a view to drawing up its report:
The Taskforce has now completed its work and the Chair has presented the report to the Minster. The Plan makes a number of recommendations to help tourism businesses to survive, stabilise and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. These are set out hereunder:
Modify existing or introduce new measures to help those tourism businesses significantly impacted by public health measures to survive the current crisis and be in a position to fast-track and contribute to a sustainable recovery, as follows:
Introduce a €10 million programme of professional development supports with strong digital content to keep those laid off or on reduced working hours engaged in the tourism sector to ensure that skilled workers are available to drive the recovery in the sector.
Establish an independently chaired Recovery Oversight Group to monitor the implementation of the recommendations in this report and monitor the sector’s recovery.