The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) today welcomed the appointment of Mary Hanafin, TD, as Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism.
Paul Gallagher, President, IHF, states, “Minister Hanafin brings a wealth of experience having served across several Government departments since 2002. Given tourism’s position as the country’s largest indigenous employer, Minister Hanafin will play an important role in ensuring that national policies are focussed on supporting and developing this vital industry.”
“Minister Hanafin has a strong track record of being a very effective and productive leader across all her previous departments. We look forward to working with her and will be seeking an early meeting to discuss her policy objectives and the concerns of hotels and guesthouses on the ground,” adds Mr Gallagher.
Mr Gallagher welcomed the Taoiseach’s acknowledgement of the economic contribution of tourism and his commitment today to ensure the significant growth opportunities of the industry are realised. He states, “Tourism and the hospitality sector have enormous strategic potential to assist in the recovery of the Irish economy and must continue to be to the fore of national Government policy and decision making.”
The IHF states that, as an employer of over 200,000 people throughout the country, the business of tourism is impacted by decisions taken by almost all state departments. It calls for a more holistic strategy for tourism that creates compelling offerings around visitors supported by a more focused department working in greater partnership with industry and the relevant state bodies.
