The Irish Tourist Industry Confederation has proposed that the Government gives €1 billion to the industry in the next National Development Plan 2007-2013.
In a submission to the Government, the Confederation today also proposed the development of a regional conference and exhibition centre in the Shannon/Limerick area with a minimum capacity of 2,000 people.
ITIC says that if Ireland is to reach a Government target of 10 million in overseas visitors and €6 billion in earnings by 2012, a 'step change' is required in tourism performance.
It wants the €1 billion, or €143m per year of the plan, to be spent on international marketing, product development, human resource development, the national conference centre and a regional conference centre in order to reach the target.
Today's submission was based on a study by economist Paul Tansey and shows that when direct and indirect tax yields are added, the Government gained an additional €6.6 billion in tax receipts from tourism in the five years ended 2004.
The study says that the current commitment of just 0.75% of total planned national investment in an industry estimated to be responsible for 4.4% of GNP highlights the need for greater investment.
