Local authorities told to produce tourism strategies by March

Local authorities have been told to produce a tourism strategy by the end of next March.

The role of local authorities in supporting tourism was outlined in the Tourism Action Plan 2016-18, published in January.

Minister of state for tourism and sport Patrick O’Donovan said the strategies would show the authorities are “in step” with commitments in the programme for government.

Speaking at Tourism Ireland’s end-of-year review of overseas tourism to Ireland, Mr O’Donovan said local authorities are legally obliged to become involved in tourism.

“This is not a ‘might ask’ anymore, it’s a ‘must produce’,” he said.

“Gone are the days when you can expect Fáilte Ireland to open a tourist office in every town and village in the country.

“There is great potential at local authority level — they have the knowledge, they have access to money, they have people, and they have the physical infrastructure on the ground as well.”

Mr O’Donovan said he wants to see a “key set of actions” from every local authority in Ireland as to how they are going to drive the future of tourism in their area.

“This is about using the existing infrastructure. We don’t need any new offices; we don’t need any new buildings. We have local authority offices practically in every town in Ireland.”

Providing people with basic information about visitor attractions and accommodation is “a very basic ask”, said Mr O’Donovan.

While some local authorities had forged ahead in developing strategies, there were others that needed to get on with it, he said, and that is why he has set the March deadline.