National Tourism Development Authority - Fáilte Ireland
Background
In November 2001, the Government approved the creation of a National Tourism Development Authority to promote the development of sustainable tourist facilities and services, including the promotion of training, human resources and marketing skills.
The legislation to provide for the establishment of the new National Tourism Development Authority, known operationally as Fáilte Ireland, was signed into law on 13 April 2003. Details of the legislation (The National Tourism Development Authority Act 2003) can be found on the Oireachtas Website at http://www.gov.ie/bills28/bills/2002/4002/default.htm
On 21 May 2003, the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism announced its membership and designated 28 May 2003 as its Establishment Day. The Chief Executive of the Authority, Mr Shaun Quinn, took up duty in January 2003.
Focus
Fáilte Ireland's mission is :
"To increase the contribution of tourism to the economy by facilitating the development of a competitive and profitable tourism industry."
Fáilte Ireland key role is to support and help the industry to meet the challenges facing the entire global tourism market and to sustain, or increase, the level of activity in the sector.
It is primarily a catalyst of other people's activity. It supports the industry in its efforts to be more competitive and more profitable. As the State's tourism development authority, it is well placed to address some of the broader issues that need to be tackled if the industry is to continue to grow and develop.
Its emphasis is on strategic partnership, with all the interests in Irish tourism at national, local and regional levels working together towards a common goal.
Fáilte Ireland’s range of supports and services provides those involved, or considering becoming involved in Irish tourism with a one-stop-shop to meet their business or professional needs. Working in partnership with the industry, Fáilte Ireland will meet the industry’s needs, leading and supporting Irish tourism in its next phase of development.
Its priorities for 2005 are to develop and support regional tourism; develop the business tourism sector; improve enterprise competitiveness; encourage innovation and investment in new and existing products; promote sustainable development and champion "tourism sensitive" public policies.
Fáilte Ireland's range of supports and services provides those involved, or considering becoming involved in Irish tourism with a one-stop-shop to meet their business or professional needs. Working in partnership with the industry, Fáilte Ireland will meet the industry's needs, leading and supporting Irish tourism in its next phase of development. Fáilte Ireland's website www.failteireland.ie contains more detail on these subjects. Its website is also a very useful resource in the planning of any holiday. Fáilte Ireland also manages the discoverireland website www.discoverireland.ie which is dedicated to listings of Accommodation, Special Offers, Festivals, Events and other information which contribute to many happy holidays in Ireland. The website also has specific links to each of the country's regions where more detailed and localised information can be obtained
Membership of National Tourism Development Authority
Chairperson : Mr Redmond O'Donoghue
Ordinary Members : Mr Richard Bourke,
Ms Maureen Cairnduff,
Mr. Dominic Dillane,
Mr. Brian Dowling,
Mr Brian Hughes,
Mr. John McDonnell,
Mr. Noel McGinley,
An tUasal Pádraig Ó Céidigh,
Mr. Patrick O'Donoghue,
An tUasal Páidí Ó Sé,
Ms. Catherine Reilly,
Ms. Eithne Scott-Lennon.
Chief Executive: Shaun Quinn
Staff: official complement of 389
Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland
Tourism Ireland is a North-South body, established following the Good Friday Agreement, to market the island of Ireland as a tourism destination in overseas markets. Put simply, Tourism Ireland focuses on getting the visitors to Ireland and Fáilte Ireland focuses on the quality of the experience provided to those visitors by the Irish tourism industry. Fáilte Ireland is also responsible for the marketing of domestic tourism on the island of Ireland. Fáilte Ireland is not a North-South body. It operates within the State.
Tourism Training & Development
A quality Tourism industry requires a skilled workforce and a comprehensive approach to the education and training of personnel. While this is primarily a function of individual tourism enterprises Fáilte Ireland is responsible for supporting the recruitment, education and training of the tourism workforce.
Fáilte Ireland provides the following services for the Irish tourism industry:
- recruitment and training of school-leavers through college-based training courses;
- basic skills training for the unemployed;
- development of national training structures and programmes, industry-based training for tourism managers and workers, and
- provision of business development and advisory services to the industry.
These services are provided through a network of regional offices, hotel and catering colleges, training centres for the unemployed and hotel schools.
Information and Contact Points
General information in respect of tourism marketing activities and programmes of Fáilte Ireland and is set out in a range of publications available directly from them.
Fáilte Ireland
Amiens Street, Dublin 1,
Tel 1890 525 525 or (01) 855 6555
Fax (01) 855 6821
E-mail: info@failteireland.ie or user.name@failteireland.ie ( eg: joe.blogs@failteireland.ie )
Web: www.failteireland.ie. (corporate)
www.discoverireland.ie (consumer)
Fáilte Ireland
53 Castle Street
Belfast BT1 1GH
Tel (028) 9026 5500
Fax (028) 9026 5515
If dialing from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland the direct code is: (048) 9026 5500
E-mail: infob@failteireland.ie or user.name@failteireland.ie ( eg: joe.blogs@failteireland.ie )
Web: www.ireland.ie
Fáilte Ireland
Derry Visitor & Convention Bureau
44 Foyle Street
Derry, BT48 6AT
Tel/Fax (028) 7136 9501
E-mail: failteireland@derryvisitor.com