Tourism
In the case of TOURISM, it was agreed that a publicly-owned limited company would be established by Bord Fáilte Éireann and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board to promote the island of Ireland overseas as a tourist destination. The establishment of this new company, known as Tourism Ireland, was formally approved by the first NSMC meeting in the Tourism Sector on 27 October 2000. The Company was subsequently established on 11 December 2000 and operates under the overall policy direction of NSMC. The Joint Communiqués following the Council meetings are listed below.
The objectives for the Company which have been agreed by the NSMC include:
- To plan and deliver international tourism marketing programmes, including programmes in partnership with the industry North and South;
- To publish and disseminate in overseas markets, information of a balanced and comprehensive nature on the island of Ireland as a tourist destination which must reflect the diverse traditions, forms of cultural expression and identities within the island;
- To carry out market research, to provide information and other appropriate assistance to help the industry develop international marketing expertise;
- To co-operate with, consult, and assist other bodies or associations in carrying out such activities;
- To carry out surveys and collect relevant statistics and information;
- To subsume the activities currently carried out by the Overseas Tourism Marketing Initiative Ltd. (OTMI) and to acquire its business assets and undertakings; and
- To carry out overseas marketing and promotion activity for Bord Fáilte Éireann and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board;
The Company has its headquarters in Dublin and a regional office in Coleraine.
On 19 December 2000, a twelve member Board of Directors was appointed to the Company by the NSMC. The Chair is Mr Andrew Coppel, Chief Executive of Racecourse Holdings Trust and the Vice-Chair is Ms Ann Riordan, formerly of Microsoft Ireland. The Chief Executive of Tourism Ireland is Mr Paul O'Toole.
Tourism Ireland has taken responsibility for the marketing of the island of Ireland overseas as a tourist destination. The 2002 marketing programme was launched in Dublin and Belfast in November 2001.
Joint Communiqués
- Belfast, Friday 27 October 2000
- Letterkenny, Friday 30 March 2001
- Coleraine, Friday 29 June 2001
- Dublin, 7 November 2001
- Killadeas, Co. Fermanagh, Friday 22 February 2002
The Exchange of Notes between the British and Irish Governments on 19 November 2002 (Cmnd 5708), provides for decisions and actions relating to the Implementation Bodies and Tourism Ireland Limited or their respective functions to be taken by the two Governments. The following decisions, have been taken under The Exchange of Notes.
Contact Details
| Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment Netherleigh Massey Avenue BELFAST BT4 2JP Telephone: (028) 9052 9900 Fax: (028) 9052 9550 Email: information@detini.gov.uk Website: www.detini.gov.uk |
Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism Kildare Street Dublin 2 Telephone: (01) 631 3800 Fax: (01) 661 1201 Email: web_master@dast.gov.ie Website: www.dast.gov.ie |
| Headquarters: Tourism Ireland 5th Floor Bishop's Square Redmond's Hill Dublin 2 Telephone: (01) 476 3400 Fax: (01) 476 3666 Email: info@tourismireland.com Website: www.tourismireland.com |
Regional Office: Tourism Ireland Beresford House 2 Beresford Road Coleraine BT52 1GE Telephone: (028) 7032 6632 Fax: (028) 7032 6932 Email: info@tourismireland.com Website: www.tourismireland.com |