New tourism oversight group begins work on government strategy

A new government oversight group tasked with delivering Ireland’s long-term tourism strategy has held its inaugural meeting under the chairmanship of Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke.

The first meeting of the Tourism Policy Oversight Group took place at the Department’s headquarters on Kildare Street on Wednesday. The group has been established to oversee the implementation of A New Era for Irish Tourism, the government’s tourism policy framework, which sets out plans for the sector through to 2031.

Opening the meeting, Minister Burke thanked members of previous tourism stakeholder forums for their contribution in helping shape the sector in recent years, saying the new body would build on that work as the focus shifts from post-pandemic recovery to delivering the strategy’s long-term objectives.

The Oversight Group will provide strategic leadership for the implementation of the policy and monitor progress against its 71 objectives and wider targets for the tourism sector over the next five years.

The government said the new governance arrangements reflect tourism’s importance to the Irish economy. The sector supports an estimated 229,000 jobs, sustains around 46,000 tourism-related businesses and generates economic activity in every county.

Membership of the group includes representatives from government departments, local authorities, state agencies, industry organisations, communities and education providers. Officials said the structure is designed to strengthen collaboration across the sector while ensuring accountability for the delivery of the policy.

The Oversight Group will also be supported by five thematic delivery streams covering Data and Insights, Culinary Tourism, Sustainability, State Assets and Strategic Enablement, and Market Development and Capacity. These groups will report back to the Oversight Group as work progresses.

Speaking after the meeting, Minister Burke described the establishment of the body as “an important milestone” in delivering the government’s tourism strategy.

“Tourism is a vital contributor to our economy, our communities and our regions, and its continued success depends on strong collaboration,” he said.

The Minister said he looked forward to working with stakeholders to deliver the policy’s objectives and support the sustainable growth and long-term competitiveness of Ireland’s tourism industry through to 2031.