Local Meath Minister Damien English T.D. has welcomed the launch of the Government’s new tourism policy, ‘People, Place and Policy – Growing Tourism to 2025’, saying it will benefit tourism in Co. Meath.
“The new tourism policy statement launched last week by Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe, targets €5 billion in revenue from 10 million overseas visits by 2025. This is great news for counties like Meath which have a lot to offer to tourists and depend so much on the sector” stated the Minister for Skills, Research and Innovation.
“Located next door to Dublin – the largest entry point into Ireland – Meath has significant potential to grow and attract even more visitor numbers and revenue. We have a list of world renowned heritage sites at Newgrange, Knowth, Dowth and Loughcrew, and newer tourism attractions like Tayto Park, Rathbeggan Lakes to name but a few of many.
“The new target for Irish tourism would enable employment in the sector to rise to 250,000 jobs. Meath must and can fight for its fair share of these jobs. The Government is committed to tourism growth as part of its plan to spread the economic recovery to all regions of Ireland, and Meath can really benefit from this.
“The Tourism Policy Statement has three headline targets, to be achieved by 2025:
o Revenue from overseas tourism, in real terms and excluding air fares and ferry charges, will grow to €5 billion per year in 2025 from €3.5 billion in 2014;
o 250,000 people will be employed in tourism, compared with an estimated 200,000 at present; and
o We will grow overseas visits to Ireland to 10 million (from 7.6 million in 2014).
“In Meath we have the Castles and Fortresses, we have the examples of early Christian Ireland, we have the Gardens and Historic Houses and the Battlesites. And here in Meath we have top quality hotels, restaurants, artisan food producrs and great golf courses too. There is so much to offer tourists in Meath. We need to talk about it more and get out there and sell it, and we will be well placed to benefit from this ambitious new ten year tourism policy.”
DAMIEN ENGLISH T.D. 