TD for Wexford, Minister Paul Kehoe says tourism is booming and we must not let Fianna Fáil wreck the sector again and reverse the recovery which is taking place and the hard work of all those involved in the sector.
“Fianna Fáil’s answer to challenging times for Irish tourism was more taxation. Fine Gael’s policy is to support growth and create jobs. When Fianna Fáil were in office, the tourism sector suffered a sharp decline from 2008; revenue dropped by €1.1 billion in 2009 to €5.2 billion, while overseas visitor numbers fell by close to 1 million in 2009. Fianna Fáil’s decision to introduce the Air Travel Tax was counterproductive and a deterrent to the survival of the tourism industry.
“In sharp contrast Fine Gael has taken several steps to support tourism, aid the recovery and create jobs. The special 9% VAT rate for the tourism industry was introduced by Fine Gael in 2011 to help the sector get back on its feet and anyone can see from the latest tourism figures that it has been a huge success. Fáilte Ireland research has shown that since the VAT rate was originally cut to 9%, tourism has generated an extra 30,000 jobs.
“In Budget 2014 Minister Michael Noonan scrapped the Air Travel Tax. This tax, which was introduced by a panicked Fianna Fáil Government, was short-sighted and damaging and they refused calls from Fine Gael to strap it. The scrapping of this tax by the Fine Gael led Government has helped to support the airlines to develop new routes and build traffic volumes, thereby helping tourism.
“The Fine Gael led Government has placed tourism at the centre of its economic recovery plans and has supported the tourism sector with measures such as the new 9% VAT rate, the Gathering Ireland 2013, the scrapping of the Air Travel Tax, the Visa Waiver and the development of the Ancient East.
“Tourism is now one of Ireland’s largest industries, supporting over 200,000 jobs. Official CSO figures for the first half of 2015 show there have been over 400,000 extra overseas visitors to Ireland compared with the same time last year. Just today we’ve heard that six Irish attractions have made it onto a list of the world’s top 500 must-see sights of all time, compiled by guidebook publisher Lonely Planet.
“This Government remains committed to growing the tourism sector further and continuing to support local businesses and those who work within them. The tourism strategy “People, Place and Policy, growing tourism to 2025’ sets clear targets for the sector. The Government’s ambition is that employment in the sector will reach 250,000 by 2025 and this will be underpinned by 10 million overseas visits per year by 2025 (compared to 7.6 million in 2014).
“Fine Gael is standing up for rural Ireland and we’re determined to spread the recovery throughout the country. We see the booming tourism sector as a key driver of this recovery and a means to ensure that it reaches every corner of Ireland.”
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