Joint Oireachtas Committee Report on Rural Tourism
The launch of the Joint Oireachtas Committee Report on Rural Tourism was attended by immediate Past Chair of AVEA Sean Connick and CEO Catherine Flanagan. AVEA had made written and oral submissions to the Committee in 2022-23.
At the launch, Sean Connick said ‘It is heartening to have had the opportunity of an audience with the Joint Committee, where we could set out the challenges and opportunities faced by visitor attractions located rurally. Often, visitor attractions and tourism businesses are the key drivers of the local economy, and their importance must not be under-estimated. We welcome the Recommendations made in the Report, and would like to add our own Recommendation: that the Taoiseach establish an cross-Departmental Committee, to ensure implementation of the excellent suggestions made. Tourism touches many departments – enterprise and employment, finance, transport, and of course our primary department – so let the economic and social value of tourism be truly cherished.’
