Tourism JC 8 November 2007
NORTH/SOUTH MINISTERIAL COUNCIL
TOURISM SECTORAL FORMAT
DUBLIN, 8 NOVEMBER 2007
JOINT COMMUNIQUÉ
1. The first NSMC meeting in Tourism Sectoral format since the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly was held in Dublin Castle on 8 November 2007.
2. The Irish Government was represented by Minister Seamus Brennan, TD Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism. The Northern Ireland Executive was represented by Minister Nigel Dodds OBE, MP, MLA, Minister of Enterprise Trade and Investment and Minister Michelle Gildernew MP, MLA, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.
3. The Council considered a report from Ms Ann Riordan, Vice Chair of Tourism Ireland and welcomed progress made since the last meeting in April 2002. Council noted the strong growth in visitor numbers and revenue which are forecast to have grown by €1.3/£0.87 billion and 2.17 million respectively, including an increase of 391,000 in visitors to Northern Ireland during this period.
4. The Council received a presentation on the future plans of Tourism Ireland from Paul O’Toole CEO. It welcomed the broad objectives outlined in Tourism Ireland’s three year Corporate Plan, including the two key goals of increasing tourism to the island of Ireland and supporting Northern Ireland to realise its tourism potential.
5. Council welcomed the Corporate Plan’s challenging targets. If fully achieved, it could mean that tourism will generate up to €16/£10.8 billion for the island of Ireland in overseas earnings over the next three years. It approved in principle the Tourism Ireland Corporate Plan 2008-2010 and Business Plan for 2008 subject to budgetary considerations.
6. The Council noted the Tourism Ireland annual Report and Accounts 2006.
7. The Council agreed to meet again in Tourism Sectoral format in Spring 2008.
TOURISM SECTORAL FORMAT
DUBLIN, 8 NOVEMBER 2007
JOINT COMMUNIQUÉ
1. The first NSMC meeting in Tourism Sectoral format since the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly was held in Dublin Castle on 8 November 2007.
2. The Irish Government was represented by Minister Seamus Brennan, TD Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism. The Northern Ireland Executive was represented by Minister Nigel Dodds OBE, MP, MLA, Minister of Enterprise Trade and Investment and Minister Michelle Gildernew MP, MLA, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.
3. The Council considered a report from Ms Ann Riordan, Vice Chair of Tourism Ireland and welcomed progress made since the last meeting in April 2002. Council noted the strong growth in visitor numbers and revenue which are forecast to have grown by €1.3/£0.87 billion and 2.17 million respectively, including an increase of 391,000 in visitors to Northern Ireland during this period.
4. The Council received a presentation on the future plans of Tourism Ireland from Paul O’Toole CEO. It welcomed the broad objectives outlined in Tourism Ireland’s three year Corporate Plan, including the two key goals of increasing tourism to the island of Ireland and supporting Northern Ireland to realise its tourism potential.
5. Council welcomed the Corporate Plan’s challenging targets. If fully achieved, it could mean that tourism will generate up to €16/£10.8 billion for the island of Ireland in overseas earnings over the next three years. It approved in principle the Tourism Ireland Corporate Plan 2008-2010 and Business Plan for 2008 subject to budgetary considerations.
6. The Council noted the Tourism Ireland annual Report and Accounts 2006.
7. The Council agreed to meet again in Tourism Sectoral format in Spring 2008.
Joint Secretariat
November 2007