Cathy Bennett
Question:183. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will report on his proposals to cultivate cross-Border tourism. [30509/26]
View answerTuesday, 28 April 2026
Questions (183)
Written answers
Strengthening cross-Border cooperation and connectivity is a central ambition of this Government, with tourism playing a key role in advancing this objective.
In addition to its commitment to working with Fáilte Ireland to support a more balanced regional distribution of tourism and to further develop the experience brands, the Programme for Government also includes a commitment to support Tourism Ireland to further integrate tourism offerings on an all-island basis.
The National Tourism Policy Statement ‘A New Era for Irish Tourism’ reaffirms the Government’s commitment to developing cross-Border tourism through Shared Island initiatives. In line with this policy, my Department, working in consultation with the tourism agencies, will continue to support Shared Island bids for joint initiatives that strengthen regional connectivity and deliver more cohesive visitor experiences across the island.
The Shared Island Brand Collaboration Project aims to strengthen the connection between the Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway Coastal Route and has made significant progress this year. In February, the Taoiseach and I, alongside Minister Archibald, announced the 13 successful projects under the Coast-to-Coast Capital Investment Scheme, which is advancing cross border tourism development and supports high quality, immersive visitor experiences across both jurisdictions.
The latest phase of the Shared Island Initiative was announced in February 2025 with funding of up to €23 million for the Shared Destinations Programme in the border regions. This programme will see Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Northern Ireland and Tourism Ireland work in partnership with local authorities to develop sustainable tourism amenities across the border region at Carlingford Lough, Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark and Sliabh Beagh and will also include an International Marketing Programme to optimise the economic impact for each region.
Through the All-Island Strategic Tourism Group, established under the North South Ministerial Council, the Department and the tourism agencies will also work closely with our Northern Ireland counterparts to identify and progress key areas of North-South coordination and cooperation, harnessing the full tourism potential of the island while delivering benefits for visitors and local communities alike.