Dublin’s tourism promotion to be undertaken by Fáilte Ireland
Dublin Tourism merging with parent body from 2012 – Minister Varadkar
The promotion of Dublin for tourism purposes will be taken over by Fáilte Ireland from the new year, Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar has confirmed.
Dublin Tourism is being merged with its parent body as part of the Government’s ongoing programme to reduce the number of agencies and quangos. This is the third rationalisation conducted by Minister Varadkar, following the merger of Coaching Ireland with the Sports Council, and the disbandment of Dundalk Port Company and the transfer of its management to Dublin Port.
Dublin will continue to be promoted as effectively as before, but promotional functions will be conducted within the framework of Fáilte Ireland. The board of Dublin Tourism has been disbanded, and its staff are moving to Fáilte Ireland.
Minister Varadkar said the specialists in Dublin Tourism will fit naturally into the Fáilte Ireland operation, which also has considerable experience and expertise in the promotion of Dublin as a tourism destination.
“Every Government Minister has been asked to look closely at the various agencies and quangos for which they have responsibility. Dublin Tourism has performed a valuable role in promoting the capital, but inevitably there has been considerable overlap with the work of Fáilte Ireland.
“In this context it makes sense to merge Dublin Tourism with its parent body, Fáilte Ireland. This will ensure that Dublin continues to be promoted effectively as a tourism destination, while removing the element of duplication which has existed up to now.
“Dublin does remarkably well as a tourism destination within an Irish context, and I look forward to that process continuing and developing under the management of Failte Ireland.”
