67. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to outline his Department’s efforts to promote tourism in east County Galway. [66481/26]

The promotion and development of regional tourism is led operationally by Fáilte Ireland, working with local authorities, tourism enterprises and community stakeholders. East Galway is included within the Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands regional experience brand, while other parts of County Galway are promoted through the Wild Atlantic Way. This positioning allows the east of the county to benefit from the Hidden Heartlands focus on nature, waterways, outdoor activity, local culture and slower, immersive visitor experiences.

A key mechanism for strengthening tourism in the region is the Destination Experience Development Plan process. These five-year plans bring public bodies, businesses and local communities together to identify priority projects, improve the visitor offer and coordinate delivery. Fáilte Ireland has confirmed that work on the East Galway Destination Experience Development Plan is continuing and will be finalised in early 2027, with the plan expected to provide a practical roadmap for sustainable tourism development, experience improvement and stronger collaboration across the area.

As part of that process, Fáilte Ireland has engaged directly with local stakeholders, including through working group meetings, a community workshop held in Ballinasloe in May 2026 and local drop-in clinics across East Galway. These sessions are intended to draw out project ideas, identify gaps in the visitor experience and ensure that the plan reflects local knowledge. In parallel, Fáilte Ireland has worked with Galway County Council and tourism businesses on a dedicated East Galway tourism map, which was distributed for use by industry ahead of the 2026 summer season. The map is designed to help businesses cross-promote attractions, activities and experiences, and to make it easier for visitors to discover more of the area.

Fáilte Ireland is also supporting industry development and collaboration through initiatives such as the East Galway Tourism Networking Event. The first event, held in 2025, brought together 40 local tourism businesses and was delivered in partnership with Galway County Council. It provided a forum for operators to share information, build referral links and consider how local experiences can be packaged and promoted more effectively. A further networking event is planned for later in 2026, after the summer season, to maintain momentum and support continued cooperation across the local tourism sector. The event will be led by Galway County Council, and supported by Fáilte Ireland. Galway County Council are finalising an East Galway tourism video, supported through funding from Fáilte Ireland, and this will be launched at the next in person networking event

Investment is also being provided through Fáilte Ireland’s Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme, supported by the Government and the EU Just Transition Fund. Approximately €1.2 million has been allocated to eight projects across the East Galway area. This funding is intended to support projects that can enhance place-based tourism, strengthen local communities, improve the quality of visitor experiences and contribute to a more sustainable and balanced tourism economy.

In terms of increasing visitor numbers, East Galway will benefit from national and regional marketing activity under the Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands brand, as well as from Fáilte Ireland’s domestic campaign. On the domestic marketing front, we are taking clear and targeted action. In March 2026, Fáilte Ireland launched a national campaign, “Find Yourself on a Short Break”, which is designed to stimulate that domestic demand and encourage more frequent short breaks across the country. Initiatives such as this campaign will be central to delivering the 7% average annual growth in domestic tourism targeted in the Policy Statement I published late last year 'A New Era for Irish Tourism'.

Taken together, the East Galway Destination Experience Development Plan, the local tourism map, networking activity, targeted investment and domestic marketing campaigns will help improve the visitor proposition, extend the season, support local businesses and attract more visitors to East Galway. I will continue to support the work of Fáilte Ireland and Galway County Council in developing tourism in the region under Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands.