This island is not making the most of water-based tourism, which could be generating £184 million more a year than it is now, according to a Marine Institute report.
The proportion of tourists engaging in water-based activities has actually declined by over 6 per cent in the past decade, the report states. It has proposed a £130 million investment strategy, which was presented to the Minister for the Marine and Natural Reso urces, Dr Woods, in Youghal, Co Cork, yesterday in the lead-up to publication of the National Development Plan.
The Marine Institute claims the sector's turnover could increase to almost £700 million, and the contribution to GNP could reach £530 million annually if fully exploited. It also claims an extra 9,400 jobs could be created in the area by 2006. The study notes that the sector currently supports over 14,500 jobs annually, and provides employment in areas where other opportunities can be limited. Its research indicates that small to medium-sized marinas of about 55 to 80 berths in regional locations could generate between £400,000 and £700,000 each year and could support between 20 and 30 full-time jobs. It cites the new marina in Kilmore Quay, Co Wexford, as an example.
However, the lack of serviceable harbours, piers, slip-ways and moorings is identified as one of the most serious obstacles to further development. In identifying sites which could be improved, the investment programme also stresses the need to encourage "product development", initiate marketing strategies and foster co-operation among existing companies and services.
Accepting the report, the Minister said the plan not only provided a blueprint for successful development, but also addressed the threats to that success. The quality of our tourism and "leisure product" could be adversely affected by overcrowding and overuse of specific locations, he noted.
"This plan focuses on attracting tourists during off-peak periods and to some of the less-well-visited parts of the country," he said. "It is important that we focus on Ireland's many `hidden treasures' to increase visits to these areas."
The £130 million investment programme would involve some £96 million in public funding. This represented "an ambitious agenda" for the forthcoming round of EU structural funds, the Minister commented.
Earlier this year, the Irish Sailing Association published a five-year plan which noted that sailing could be one of the State's leading leisure activities if facilities were improved.
Research indicated that 66,000 people would increase their level of participation in water sports, and 31,700 would start sailing, if there was more opportunity to do so, the plan said.
The ISA intends to develop one major Olympic-standard sailing centre in the Republic, and to increase the number of moorings and berths by 50 per cent on the coastline.
The ISA also called for the establishment of a national water sports safety committee.
