AQW 6022/17-22

Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 18/08/2020
Answered On Date: 02/09/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy for an update on a tourism recovery plan for Northern Ireland.

Answer:

I am aware of the significant impact which COVID-19 has had on our tourism industry. The mitigations implemented at a national and local level (e.g. grant schemes, business rates relief, loan schemes etc.) have played an important part in helping to sustain many tourism and hospitality businesses through the recent difficult months.

Conscious of the importance of planning ahead and of the need to develop plans for recovery of tourism in Northern Ireland, I established the Tourism Recovery Steering Group which I Chair, to lead the planning and preparation for recovery.

The membership of the Steering Group comprises representation from relevant Government Departments, Tourism NI, Tourism Ireland, the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives, Visit Britain and tourism and hospitality industry representative bodies.

In recognition of the scale and complexity of the challenges, and the need for government and industry to work together to design and deliver a tourism recovery action plan, a Working Group was also established drawing together key stake holders across the industry and chaired by the CEO of Tourism NI.

The Working Group established 10 workstreams to identify the key issues facing the various sectors within the tourism industry and to recommend interventions required to address these issues. Task & Finish Groups were set up under the 10 workstreams to reflect the diverse nature of the industry and inform the Working Group

I have asked the Working Group in conjunction with the Task & Finish groups to develop a tourism recovery action plan to address key issues and actions as we move forward to rebuild the industry and protect jobs. The issues and initiatives identified by the Working Group and Task & Finish groups combined with work across Departments will inform the recovery plan

A substantive draft Action Plan will be presented to the Tourism Recovery Steering Group for initial consideration at its next meeting scheduled to be held on 2nd September.