Catherine Martin has said that indoor dining is “on the horizon.”
The Minister for Tourism indicated to fellow politicians in Leinster House today that “the prospect of being able to eat in a restaurant or cafe” is not far away.
Ms Martin’s comments were the latest in a series of optimistic remarks from ministers this week as the Government prepares to announce more easing of lockdown measures next week.
The Minister for Tourism was speaking at this week’s Oireachtas tourism committee in Leinster House.
She said: “While we are guided at all times by the health advice, we are looking forward to returning to in-person cultural and sporting events and being able to visit galleries and museums and libraries.
“The prospect of being able to eat in a restaurant or café, or go on holidays within Ireland is on the horizon, if the epidemiological situation continues to improve.
“And we are looking forward to a time when we can welcome international visitors back to our shores.”
Ms Martin said that reopenings of tourism, the arts and sports would be backed-up with funding.
She added: “For tourism, recovery and sustainable growth is essential.
“This will begin with a survival, stabilisation and recovery programme informed by the recommendations of the Tourism Recovery Taskforce as well as inputs from the Tourism Recovery Oversight Group.
“I also intend to initiate the development of a National Tourism Policy that will set out the path over the coming years, towards a Tourism sector that is socially and economically sustainable and that ensures that sustainability is at the heart of the recovery in the sector.
“This policy will be underpinned by a programme of capital investment as we develop our national tourism product.
“This investment programme will take a regions-led approach and will include investments in activity-based tourism and the development of strategic tourism locations.
“As well as investing in our tourism product, these investments will provide important supports for local enterprise and employment, often in locations where tourism is a key driver of the local economy.”
