Motion

All-Ireland Tourism Strategy

Motion TitleAll-Ireland Tourism Strategy

Motion TextThat this Assembly recognises the importance of tourism to our economy; acknowledges that tourism is one of six areas of cooperation on the island of Ireland, as set out in the Good Friday Agreement; further acknowledges the untapped potential benefit of all-Ireland tourism to our local communities; notes that in 2019 the Wild Atlantic Way tourism experience generated €1.9 billion and attracted 3.4 million overseas tourists to the nine counties that it currently covers; acknowledges that extending the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland's Ancient East and Ireland's Hidden Heartlands would create significant opportunities for our local tourism sector; and calls on the Department for the Economy to work with Tourism Ireland, Tourism NI and Fáilte Ireland to extend the major tourism brands across the island, and to work with local communities to develop sustainable tourism which enhances and protects the local environment and natural heritage, supports local businesses and creates jobs and prosperity.

Motion CategoryPrivate Members' Motion

Date Tabled to Business Office09/06/2022

Date Selected By Committee23/04/2024

Date of Plenary Debate07/05/2024

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Tabled By

Member Name	Tabled As
Mr Pádraig Delargy	MLA - Foyle
Mrs Cathy Mason	MLA - South Down
Mr Philip McGuigan	MLA - North Antrim
Miss Áine Murphy	MLA - Fermanagh and South Tyrone

Bills

Outcome/Voting

No vote

Amendments

Selected Amendments

Number	Tabled Date	Amendment Text
1	01/05/2024	Leave out all after ‘economy;’ and insert: ‘acknowledges that tourism is one of six areas of cross-border cooperation on the island of Ireland under Strand 2 of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement; further acknowledges the untapped potential benefit of tourism to our local communities; notes that in 2019 the Wild Atlantic Way tourism experience generated €1.9 billion and attracted 3.4 million overseas tourists to the nine counties that it currently covers; acknowledges that any proposal to extend the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland's Ancient East and Ireland's Hidden Heartlands must respect our own distinctive tourism brand, which is essential to ensuring Northern Ireland competes effectively for tourism visitor spend both nationally and internationally; calls on the Department for the Economy to work with the local tourism sector, Tourism Ireland, Tourism NI, the Tourism Alliance and Fáilte Ireland to increase the prominence of the Northern Ireland-Embrace a Giant Spirit brand, as one of a number of major cross-border tourism brands; and further calls on the Minister to urgently publish a long-term Tourism Strategy for Northern Ireland which equips local communities to develop sustainable tourism which enhances and protects the local environment and natural heritage, supports local businesses and creates jobs and prosperity.’

Other Amendments Tabled

Tabled Date	Amendment Text
02/05/2024	Leave out all after ‘our local tourism sector;’ and insert: ‘notes the rollout by the UK Government of its Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme; recognises the potentially devastating impact this will have on tourists who currently view the whole island as a single destination; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister and the Minister for the Economy to lobby urgently for a derogation that would allow tourists who cannot avail of the Common Travel Area to visit Northern Ireland for a limited number of days without obtaining an Electronic Travel Authorisation.’
02/05/2024	Insert at end: ‘and further calls on the Minister for the Economy to publish and fund a tourism strategy and action plan by September 2024, and ensure that it includes specific provision to extend the Wild Atlantic Way into Northern Ireland, promote the city of Derry as the regional capital that links the two jurisdictions and include counties Armagh and Down in Ireland’s Ancient East.’

Tabled Date

Amendment Text

02/05/2024

Leave out all after ‘our local tourism sector;’ and insert: ‘notes the rollout by the UK Government of its Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme; recognises the potentially devastating impact this will have on tourists who currently view the whole island as a single destination; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister and the Minister for the Economy to lobby urgently for a derogation that would allow tourists who cannot avail of the Common Travel Area to visit Northern Ireland for a limited number of days without obtaining an Electronic Travel Authorisation.’

02/05/2024

Insert at end: ‘and further calls on the Minister for the Economy to publish and fund a tourism strategy and action plan by September 2024, and ensure that it includes specific provision to extend the Wild Atlantic Way into Northern Ireland, promote the city of Derry as the regional capital that links the two jurisdictions and include counties Armagh and Down in Ireland’s Ancient East.’

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