I beg to move

That this Assembly notes the importance of tourism as a driver of an all-island economy; further notes that the biggest port of entry for Northern Ireland visitors remains Dublin Airport; expresses concern that the UK Government’s electronic travel authorisation (ETA) scheme poses a fundamental risk to all-island tourism; calls on the Minister for the Economy to work with the Irish Government to link the Wild Atlantic Way with the Causeway coastal route, promote Derry as the destination city linking both jurisdictions and include counties Armagh and Down in Ireland’s Ancient East; and further calls on the Minister for the Economy to work with the First Minister and deputy First Minister to formulate an agreed Executive position against the UK Government’s electronic travel authorisation scheme, and to report to the Assembly on the progress of these issues no later than September 2024.

The Business Committee has agreed to allow up to one hour for the debate. The proposer of the motion will have five minutes to propose and five minutes to make a winding-up speech. Two amendments have been selected and are published on the Marshalled List. The Business Committee has therefore agreed that 16 minutes be added to the total time for the debate.

I am pleased to move the motion on all-Ireland tourism. For the past 26 years, tourism has driven higher employment, productivity and better well-being for so many people. In 2019, the sector contributed over £1 billion in revenue. Prior to the pandemic, it employed almost 71,000 people in the region, which is an increase of 9% since 2017.

We have a huge opportunity to work together as an island to build on that, including by extending the already successful Wild Atlantic Way brand into Northern Ireland. Since I was elected, I have been making the case for the extension of the Wild Atlantic Way and, importantly, the promotion of Derry as the regional capital that links our two jurisdictions. I am also happy to confirm our support for the Sinn Féin amendment on the inclusion of Counties Fermanagh and Tyrone in Ireland's Hidden Heartlands. Supporting the integration and inclusion of those brands is not diluting our own tourism brands, as each region will continue to promote its own tourism assets, from the lakes of Fermanagh to the walls of Derry, the glens of Antrim, the Mountains of Mourne and many other beautiful places in between.

I have to be honest and say that, when I pressed departmental officials at the Economy Committee a few weeks ago about the integration of those globally recognised Irish brands, I was surprised to hear about the slow pace of progress. This concept has been discussed for many years, but I see no evidence of an action plan on linking those brands or of costings for signage, for example, which will be fairly significant. We all know the benefit of linking up those routes, so let us get on with it to attract people to that part of our island so that they can see our integrated offering.

In Newry, Mourne and Down, my colleagues have been campaigning for the inclusion of Counties Armagh and Down in Ireland's Ancient East. Bringing those counties into the brand could drive exponential growth in the tourism industry. However, it is not only a vehicle for economic growth: including Armagh and Down in Ireland's Ancient East is a vehicle for reconciliation. Given the enormous shared history of those counties for both major traditions on this island, the potential for telling our shared story to the world through an increased tourism offering cannot be overestimated. I hope that we can make progress at pace on the expansion of those brands.

There is also so much more that we can do for the sector as a whole. If we invest, we can grow it to be at least a £2 billion industry by 2030. However, we all know that the all-island tourism market faces significant challenges, not least in the form of the electronic travel authorisation scheme. Dublin Airport remains the biggest port of entry for most visitors to this part of the island. The proposal threatens that mobility and represents an existential challenge to the sector in some areas. The scheme, which is estimated to result in a loss of more than £160 million per year, is both flawed and misguided. It could have been dreamt up only by a Tory Government that lack knowledge and understanding of this island. Research has shown, in black and white, that that would discourage people from moving North to South, and the sector as a whole has been sounding the alarm. The Minister needs to work with the whole Executive to agree a position against the ETA.

We do not feel able to support the DUP amendment, which would snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. A time-bound exemption to the electronic travel authorisation scheme would not solve the problem; it would only lead to confusion on the part of our visitors. The full roll-out of the scheme by early 2025 must be stopped, and we are asking for a statement on progress on the issue by no later than September this year. While I understand that the Minister has written to the Home Office Ministers on that, we cannot keep on just writing letters. Hopefully, a new Government in Westminster will be more receptive to his engagement. I want to see the plan from the Minister and concrete actions.

Finally, I urge the Minister to progress the development and funding of the tourism strategy and the action plan to go alongside it. While the Minister's new partnership board is welcome, we need to see long-awaited delivery to support our communities and their potential by building on the progress of the past 26 years —

Sinéad, your time is up.

— and making investments that are worthy of the sector's potential.

Thank you, Sinéad. I call Phillip Brett to move amendment No 1.

Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I thank the SDLP spokesperson —.

Sorry, Phillip; just move the amendment.

Apologies. I beg to move amendment No 1:

Leave out all after "tourism as a driver" and insert: "of the Northern Ireland economy; further notes that a significant port of entry for Northern Ireland visitors remains Dublin Airport; expresses concern that without appropriate mitigations, including an effective communications plan, the UK Government’s electronic travel authorisation scheme poses a risk to inbound tourism in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic; calls on the Minister for the Economy to work with the Irish Government to explore links between the Wild Atlantic Way with the Causeway coastal route, promote Londonderry and the north-west as the destination linking both jurisdictions and include counties Armagh and Down in Ireland’s Ancient East, whilst continuing to value and promote Northern Ireland’s own distinctive tourism brand, Embrace a Giant; and further calls on the Minister for the Economy to work with the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Tourism Alliance to implement a limited and time-bound exemption of between five and seven days from the electronic travel authorisation scheme for tourists and tour operators travelling between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland, and to report to the Assembly on the progress of these issues no later than September 2024."

You are grand. You have five minutes to propose your amendment, but you only have three minutes to make a winding-up speech. Start again.

Thank you. I was trying to squeeze in as much as Ms McLaughlin managed to get in during her five-minute contribution.

I am pleased to move the amendment in my name and the names of my colleagues. Like Ms McLaughlin, I recognise the vital role that tourism plays in the economy here in Northern Ireland. There can be no underplaying of the revolutionary role that tourism has played in all communities across Northern Ireland, but we have some concerns with the Opposition motion.

Central to the building of Northern Ireland's tourism brand has been the recognition that Northern Ireland has a unique offering. I think of Ms McLaughlin's home city and the Our Time Our Place and LegenDerry campaigns, both of which were unique to Northern Ireland. The motion does not recognise that and seeks to undermine the important role that we have as a stand-alone tourism offering on these islands. The Embrace a Giant Spirit campaign, which was launched by the Department in 2019, has been tested in the market, and the figures provided by the Department show that there was a 30% increase in the number of people showing an interest in visiting Northern Ireland due to our stand-alone and strong brand.

We fully support practical relationships and cooperation between both jurisdictions on this island on cross-border tourism, and that includes creating cohesive messaging on either side of the border. However, that needs to be taken forward through a partnership rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. As the House will be aware, responsibility for the development of the tourism product here in Northern Ireland rests with Tourism Northern Ireland, and that needs to be the outworking of the Minister's approach.

Colleagues on the Economy Committee will have read the opinions of respondents, including those from Ms McLaughlin's home city, on the tourism strategy that went out to consultation before the Minister took up office. I made the point at the Committee that all the evidence showed that there was no overwhelming demand from the sector for an all-island approach. The sector, rightly, wanted to see Tourism Ireland focusing on the market within Northern Ireland rather than Northern Ireland's being an afterthought. I encourage those who want to oppose our amendment to read the responses of those involved in the tourism sector here in Northern Ireland, because they reflect —.

I thank the Member for taking an intervention. I appreciate what he is saying.

However, I have worked for many years with the chamber of commerce in Derry, and we have pushed for Derry to be part of the Wild Atlantic Way for as long as it has been up and running. We saw the opportunity for us to be at the beginning and end of something quite significant and special on the island.

I understand the unique case that you make. However, the point that I will continue to make is that Northern Ireland has a great tourism brand and any attempt to dilute that would simply undermine tourism right across Northern Ireland.

I will turn quickly to the ETA. I think that parties are united on the issue. However, an important thing to remember is that the European Union will introduce its own ETA scheme as well. I am sure that the Member will want to contact the European Union to tell it not to introduce that scheme. I know that her party leader continues to try to stop Brexit; maybe he could try to push this issue. What we need in this is a collaborative approach and the Executive and Assembly speaking with one voice. I am sure that, in summing up, she will make it clear that the alternative to the ETA here in Northern Ireland is to not have one in the United Kingdom.

When the Minister responds to the debate, I would be keen for him to update the House on a number of issues. One relates to the air connectivity review that his Department commissioned. I think that findings have come back to his Department. Air connectivity into Northern Ireland's three airports will continue to be a major source of tourism. We need to continue to build on that. I think that the Minister is looking at the terms of reference of the partnership board and whom he wishes to appoint to it. I am sure that the House would welcome an update on that.

My party would highlight the vital role that tourism from GB plays here in Northern Ireland. Tourists from GB are the single biggest group of visitors who choose Northern Ireland as a destination. The motion does not recognise that. There is more to be done to build on that, so all Members should support the amendment.

Your timing is spot on. Thank you, Phillip.

I beg to move amendment No 2:

After "Ireland’s Ancient East" insert: "and counties Fermanagh and Tyrone in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands"

Thank you, Áine. You will have five minutes to propose the amendment and three minutes to make a winding-up speech. I remind Members that all other contributors will have five minutes.

Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

[Translation: Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker.]

I propose amendment No 2 to make the case for the inclusion of counties Fermanagh and Tyrone in the motion and to outline my constituency's link to Ireland's Hidden Heartlands. As an MLA who represents Fermanagh and South Tyrone — in my biased opinion the most idyllic constituency — I am keen to see its inclusion in Ireland's Hidden Heartlands.

The local tourism sector in Fermanagh has grown in recent years, not just because of the uniqueness of its offering but because the local community and hospitality sector have poured so much time, energy and, most importantly, investment into making our county the best possible tourist destination it can be. I am sure that most people will be familiar with our infamous Stairway to Heaven, Marble Arch Caves, Boatyard Distillery and Belleek Pottery, to name but a few of the attractions that we have on offer. Fermanagh has been aptly described as the "Lake District of the North", and for good reason: Lough Erne covers two thirds of the county. Every year, thousands of visitors come to enjoy all that the lough has to offer, from fishing to boating to water sports. It is also a popular destination for historians due to its rich Celtic history. The Shannon-Erne waterway connects Lough Erne to the River Shannon, creating a route into the inland waterways of Hidden Heartlands counties.

Ireland's Hidden Heartlands is the most recently established of the three strategies that were launched in 2018. According to Fáilte Ireland, the strategy attracted 449,000 overseas visitors, generating €178 million. That money supports local economies, creates jobs and opportunities and makes rural towns and villages economically sustainable. As time moves on and the Hidden Heartlands strategy reaches a wider audience, I am confident that the number of visitors will continue to grow. It would be a huge missed opportunity if Fermanagh and Tyrone were not included.

I will conclude my remarks there. I look forward to listening to other Members' contributions on a sector that deserves a lot of praise and support into the future.

Alliance believes in better: breaking down division and working for a shared future are what drive us. In a tourism context, that means attracting more visitors and greater spend into our economy. With 83% of visitors coming to this island through the South, we, collectively, should work hard to remove barriers — any and all barriers that are within our power to remove — that prevent us from attracting more of those visitors to the North. We should also be working to encourage a rebalancing on the island of the connectivity in order to bring more visitors to the North. In the previous debate, I talked about the infrastructure and improving it to bring better links across Northern Ireland. That would rebalance the connectivity and attract more people here directly.

The UK's ETA is a major risk to our tourism industry, which generates only 5·6% of our GDP — half of what it should be. If we are to match other regions, a solution to how the ETA operates here needs to be found quickly. I encourage the Minister —.

I thank the Member for giving way. The Member may or may not be aware that the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly (BIPA) did considerable work on the ETA and the issues surrounding it. Will the Minister comment on whether he has received that report from BIPA? The British Government — as they are, until their time runs out in a few days' time — indicated that they would look favourably at derogations for the ETA. It would be useful if they could do that. Sorry.

I am not sure whether that was an intervention for me. I will leave Steve to —.

You have an extra minute.

Cheers. I know that the Minister has spoken about that, and I would appreciate it if he came back on it as soon as possible.

Tourism is an area of our economy that we can grow quickly, starting by removing the barriers that we inflict on ourselves. We only have to watch the TV to see that the Euros are on. We should have a Minister banging the door down in Downing Street to make sure that we are involved in delivering the Euros in 2028. We have the opportunity, and we have everything sitting for us to capture not only the Euros in 2028 but other events thereafter. The fact that we seem to be happy to let that opportunity be missed is absolutely disgraceful. As an Assembly, to help this place, we should be arguing and fighting for the delivery of the Euros.

I said in today's earlier debate — it is important to repeat it in the context of tourism — that Alliance aspires to enhance North/South economic cooperation, bringing shared economic opportunities across the island of Ireland while, equally, supporting trade with GB, which remains our biggest market. To drive economic growth and, in this case, tourism numbers and spend, Alliance believes that we need to better connect this island. I chatted about that in the previous debate. Yes, we have two jurisdictions and two currencies, but the key to attracting tourism and tourists here is to make the visit North as easy and as natural an experience as possible. We should be confident in ourselves, maximise our sell and encourage spend in the North through our attractions and by removing even the subtle barriers that are in the way. Last week, the Economy Committee heard from experts about those barriers.

The DUP amendment says stuff, but Phillip said something very different in the Chamber, and I disagree with him on that. I look at what we have to visit here, and it is really special. As mentioned, we have world-famous historic sites, and it is a region that we live in and enjoy. Marketing our home and our people, rather than trying to include something different from an overall campaign for international visitors, is what will attract. We need simple, consistent branding. The DUP amendment slightly misses the point of the motion, but, equally, does not take away from it. Phillip, however, said something very different. He talked about our unique branding. I say in slight jest that the amendment does not include our branding; it misrepresents it. The branding is, "Embrace a Giant Spirit", which I actually had to google, but the amendment says, "Embrace a Giant". Therefore, the branding may not be as effective or as easy for the DUP to remember as it said it was. When you want better, follow the professionals and give them a brief. As any sales executive will tell you, keep the message simple and consistent, and maximise your sell to the world. Let us keep politics out of this and work to improve our economy. Let people's imagination tell the story. We should ensure that Northern Ireland is included, covered and well promoted in the package.

The Wild Atlantic Way is branded, and visitors come to it from around the world. When I think of the Wild Atlantic Way, I think of the Cliffs of Moher, the Ring of Kerry and the beaches in Donegal, each of which is a destination in its own right. It seems crazy that the Wild Atlantic Way offering does not also include the Giant's Causeway and the north coast. On the way, people would see Downhill, Portstewart and Portrush. It is about simple, consistent branding. That is the key to getting international visitors.

The Ancient East would include my constituency of Lagan Valley, and what is not to like? It would attract more visitor spend in the local bars, shops and restaurants. How can we market the Ancient East but not include the Mournes or Belfast, or, in Lagan Valley, the Georgian village of Hillsborough, which has the only royal castle on this island? It would be remiss of me not to mention the Maze, which is next door, and we should be moving on with developing that site.

Selling our assets to the world and using them as an economic driver for tourism is of benefit to all. Growing that 5·6% of GDP and pushing it to 10% is what we should be aiming —

The Member's time is up.

— for, and we need to get on with doing that.

I appreciate that, David.

I will start by apologising for missing topical questions to the Minister for Communities. My timing was just pretty shoddy.

The motion and the DUP's amendment No 1 are good, and I have no issue with Sinn Féin's amendment No 2 either. The debate brings me back to my childhood, when I used to holiday on the lakes in Fermanagh with my mother and father. It is a good subject to discuss.

We are all fortunate to live on this island, be that in Ireland or Northern Ireland. We have a rich heritage, history and culture. The motion and the amendments mention some of the wonderful tourist attractions that we have that draw people here from across the British Isles and from across the world: the Wild Atlantic Way; the Causeway coastal route; the walled maiden city of Londonderry; Fermanagh and Tyrone in the Hidden Heartlands; and Armagh and Down in the Ancient East. Those are all wonderful things that make us stand out. We have exceptional golf courses, lakes and mountains. We have the Titanic museum and superb hospitality, food, sporting events and leisure activities. All the ingredients are there, but we just need a plan.

I will concentrate on three elements, and I hope that people will not mind if I concentrate on Northern Ireland, because it is sometimes missed when we look at the whole, but it is part of the whole.

I visited the Tourism Ireland office in New York just after COVID restrictions had started to ease. Its representatives talked about the routes between North America and Ireland reopening. Those routes are vital to tourism, but all go into the Republic of Ireland and not Northern Ireland. It is key that we try, through our tourism strategy, to get more direct routes from the United States and the rest of North America into Northern Ireland. There has been much talk about US pre-clearance for Northern Ireland. That would be an absolute game changer for us, although I acknowledge that it is a difficult issue to resolve.

Will the Member give way?

Yes.

I think that some colleagues know what I am about to intervene on. Is the Member aware that, in the past four years, we have spent £10 million

[Laughter]

on subsidising and trying to get long-haul routes out of Belfast International Airport, and it has not worked. Although I do not disagree with the aspiration, it would appear that it is pretty hard to do, and we could therefore direct our energies elsewhere, but I acknowledge the aspiration.

I am glad that you do not disagree, and —

I advise you that you have an extra minute.

— I am glad that you are a person of aspiration. I am also a person of aspiration, so I will keep that aspiration. We should still aim to get in long-haul routes. I still think that getting US pre-clearance is important, however.

Electronic travel authorisation is an absolute obstacle to tourism, without a shadow of a doubt. If it were gone, that would be by far the best outcome for everybody. We all know that. I attended the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce mission brief on business growth, however, and it outlined how the ETA is a real issue and said, as the DUP has said, that we could create a five-day waiver for movement, including tourists and tour operators, by working with the Irish Government to create a mobility task force for the island of Ireland. The five-day waiver is not ideal, but, as the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce said, it is a solution to the problem that has been put in front of us. Those are two issues: direct flights from North America and the ETA, to which we need to come up with sensible solutions if we are not able to get rid of it. However, I concede that, as the motion states, getting rid of it is the best thing to do.

The last issue that I would like to raise is our hospitality sector. There is no point in having all those things if we do not focus on our hospitality sector. Our hospitality sector is part of the draw to get people to come to this part of the island and across the whole of the island, and it will help to create an economic bounce. However, to fully staff the sector, we need controlled migration. That means working to reduce the minimum salary threshold from £38,000 to something more akin to the average wage here, which is £32,000. What we are basically saying at this time is that those key people whom we need to come and work in our hospitality sector cannot come here because they cannot earn £38,000. Our average wage is around £32,000. We are therefore being priced out. To allow Northern Ireland to compete in an all-island tourism strategy, we must provide the tools that give our hospitality and tourism businesses a level playing field. Reducing VAT for hospitality and tourism to 13·5%, which is in line with what they have in Ireland, would provide a huge opportunity for the industry here. It is OK to have an all-Ireland strategy, but there must be a degree of harmonisation, and reducing VAT for the hospitality sector could help us with that harmonisation.

We have to look at what is in front of us. The ETA issue is in front of us, and we have to deal with it. The DUP's amendment provides a solution, which is the one that the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce gave us as well, although it is not ideal. Lastly, it is about the aspiration of direct routes from North America to Northern Ireland and US pre-clearance for those leaving Northern Ireland to go to North America. Those may be aspirations, but let us think big, not small.

I welcome the motion. The tourism industry is important to the Northern Ireland economy. If there are opportunities to develop and grow the economy, within reason, they should be explored. From the outset, it must be noted that there is already much all-island collaboration in the industry. While the motion is welcome, the industry is ahead of the curve when it comes to this matter, as is often the case. I want to touch on the Wild Atlantic Way, which is slightly outside my constituency — well, it is at the other end of Northern Ireland. I have spent a fair bit of time in the Atlantic off the north coast. Ever since I was a child, I knew that the north Antrim coast was the Atlantic. It is very important there. In a previous life, my wife and I, before we had children, spent many's a weekend and longer exploring the coasts, crags and surf breaks of Ireland's west coast and, as a result, the Wild Atlantic Way, and I can categorically say that the beaches, cliffs and islands off our North Atlantic coast are as consistently stunning as those along any part of the Wild Atlantic Way.

A Member:

Hear, hear.

Thank you very much.

I can understand precisely why it would be beneficial and desirable for the Wild Atlantic Way to follow the Atlantic coast all the way round to where it meets the North Channel and, in effect, becomes the Irish Sea.

There are numerous microbusinesses that have flourished not because there is anything new about the landscape, but because the package of the Wild Atlantic Way resonates with domestic and international visitors alike. A tourist making their way around the Donegal section of the Wild Atlantic Way, perhaps unaware of our constitutional nuances, will simply see that it ends somewhere around Lough Foyle, and although the golden strands of Benone, Portstewart and Portrush and the spectacular Fair Head will be waving at them, they will not progress any further.

South Down has a logical and cast-iron claim to be included in Ireland's Ancient East. Carlingford lough has served to connect the Cooleys and the Mournes and the people of them, and to have it finish, in tourists' eyes, somewhere around Omeath, with Kilbroney and Slieve Martin within view, seems like an unutilised opportunity. Incorporating Ireland's Ancient East into our tourism package would be most welcomed by the industry. South Down has a natural beauty — Strangford and Carlingford loughs, the Mourne Mountains and the Dromara hills — a rich ancient and built heritage, with souterrains, cashels, abbeys and castles, as well as sites from our recent industrial past, such as the County Down Railway. However, it is not just the ancient that makes it so appealing to visitors; there is a thriving activity tourism sector and a top-class hospitality sector.

My constituency of South Down would benefit from the extension of Ireland's Ancient East into the district, given the natural physical linkages that exist.

While the concept of Ireland's Ancient East is a great way to capture the essence of what is on offer, it perhaps does not accurately reflect the wide scope of the product that is on offer. The reason that matters is twofold: it is about getting visitors to consider the area as a destination and then presenting the range of possibilities to them. As I understand it, collaboration is going on already and many stakeholders from the North are leading on developing the evolving brand. That encapsulates the motion and elements of the DUP amendment: there is room for both.

The Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland's Ancient East and Ireland's Hidden Heartlands have all been referenced in the debate. They allow for differentiation when people visit the North. As I understand it, having an overarching theme and further localised themes within that is a technique that is fairly commonplace in the tourism industry. Those terms essentially package things in a way that is easy to understand and encourages people to visit Ireland. For too long, Northern Ireland has not utilised the potential for tourism to develop its economy. It is essentially an opportunity to promote our part of the island. Economies of scale would suggest that, by being part of the larger brand, my constituency would benefit from an extension of that brand while keeping what is unique to it. While extending is grand and important, the industry must also evolve in this matter.

I will touch on a final couple of points. While it is correct that the motion should refer to tourism as an economic driver, we should be cognisant of the fact that it should not be seen as simply a numbers game in which the aim is to see exponential growth. Growth is important but so, too, are sustainability and regeneration: it is not about what the visitor can extract from the site but about ensuring that it is given back. Cognisance should also be given to the numbers that an area can comfortably support and to ensuring that locals are fully supportive of the developments that are to come through the tourism.

Whether it is from Downpatrick to Dunmore or Malin to Mizen, the island of Ireland boasts almost 33,000 square miles of natural beauty. It has a heritage and history of many thousands of years and a people known the world over for their humour, generosity and kindness. This shared home that we inhabit has words and wonder and music and mythology woven through its rich history and heritage. All across the world, people make their journeys to this island to visit an ancestral home, catch up with family or enjoy a holiday. Regardless of why people make the journey here — for some, it is even a spiritual pilgrimage — one thing is inevitable: they return home changed for the better, such is our impact on them.

As custodians of this ancient isle, it is our duty to struggle with that most difficult of dichotomies: how do we manage a landscape that is aged and shaped by its natural surroundings and then package a tourism product that is shaped by poets and dreamers that we can market to outside nations? That is an unenviable task, but it is a worthwhile one. It is because of our ability to do that that we have created such well-known tourism brands in South Down as the legacy of St Patrick, the Mourne Mountains, the 'Game of Thrones' tour, historic golf clubs in Newcastle and Ardglass and the world-renowned Fiddler's Green Festival in Rostrevor. That is a only snapshot of what we have to offer in one part of this isle.

There is much more that we can still do, and we will do it through our ability to bring our tourism product to others, whether that is through improved park-and-ride facilities in Newcastle and Downpatrick or access to the wider island by using the Carlingford ferry or what will soon be available through the completion of the transformative development of the Narrow Water bridge. The opportunities for the further enhancement of our tourism product will be limited only by our ambition.

By matching our tried-and-tested tourism brands, which have been referenced in the debate, with those in the South, such as Ireland's Ancient East — of which South Down is an essential part — and Ireland's Hidden Heartlands, I have no doubt that we will be able to inhabit, share and grow in the affections of people the world over. To do anything less than that would be absolutely ridiculous. We have the products. We have everything in place, but we just are not doing the marketing and making the connections to bring the two halves together.

In doing that, what will we do? We will enhance the economies on both sides, we will encourage jobs and we will bring prosperity. There is absolutely nothing to be lost by connecting the tourism products and selling what we have in spades and what we do best. That is why I support the motion.

I am pleased to speak in the final SDLP Opposition day motion of the term. Soon, in a week or two, we will be in recess.

The purpose of the motion is to highlight and underpin what we share on this island and the potential to share more in a way that maximises tourism potential, but I will underscore what was said by the two Members from South Down — my party colleague, Colin McGrath and, before him, Andrew McMurray of the Alliance Party — which was that sustainability and sustaining those landscapes is as important as maximising the benefit from them. <BR/>It is critical that we deliver on the overdue promise of linking up the Wild Atlantic Way to the ancient city of Derry, the glorious north coast and all the history that goes along with it and, indeed, linking Ireland's Ancient East with the rest of the east of the island. It is, frankly, absurd that Ireland's Ancient East does not include the site of St Patrick's burial or all the monastic and neolithic sites that populate that part of the island. The amendment to include gorgeous places such as Fermanagh in Ireland's Hidden Heartlands is, of course, well intended, and we will support it.

I will touch on a couple of comments that were made by colleagues. There is much to agree with in the DUP amendment. Although we are not wholly supportive of all of it, I acknowledge that specific progress has been made in ameliorating the ETA. It is, however, important to send out a message from the Assembly that we reject it outright. It can be ameliorated, but it is a fundamental risk to the whole island. Having a few days of grace, as it were, is not as good as having the thing gone entirely, so I encourage the Executive to come to a position to oppose it and, ideally, to persuade or at least lobby the incoming UK Government to get rid of it.

I notice one slight anomaly in the DUP amendment, which states that Northern Ireland's distinctive tourism brand is "Embrace a Giant". I think that it is missing a word; I think that it is supposed to be "Embrace a Giant Spirit". I know that the party leader, Gavin Robinson, is a big gentleman, but I am not sure that we should encourage every tourist who arrives in this part of Ireland to embrace him literally. Certainly, I am sure that voters in East Belfast will be encouraged to do so for the next wee while — but I digress.

It is not impossible to extend brands such as the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland's Ancient East while celebrating and amplifying what is specific and local, and, yes, that will include what is specific and local to Northern Ireland. That does not, in any way, compromise locally distinctive identities and brands. In Question Time earlier, the Communities Minister talked about Ulster Scots and the contribution of the Scots Irish and Ulster Scots to North America and the creation of the United States. That will be a distinctive part of the tourism offer in this part of the world that people will not get in the same way in Cork or Dublin.

Of course, we have to have a distinctive regional brand. There will be different parts of history to celebrate. Someone who is spending part of the day in Downpatrick, looking at St Patrick's grave and the ancient neolithic history in that part of the world, could, that afternoon, drive up to Mr Honeyford's constituency and visit Hillsborough Castle, which is about an entirely different period in our history, both the Anglo-Irish and, indeed, the modern-day links with the royal family. That is plurality. The richness of this part of the world — this part of the island and other parts of the island — is something that we should celebrate. It is nothing to be afraid of, and that is what our motion is all about. Indeed, the city of Belfast is, in many ways, an example of that. It is the second city of the island but also a city where an enlightenment happened in the 18th century. It had radical Presbyterians who set a new course for the whole island. That history is fascinating and entirely, as it were, cross-community and cross-border. We should work to maximise the benefit of the richness of all those brands and identities.

I am really pleased that we had what was, I hope, a fruitful debate. There is a clear view that we can benefit from extending those brands on a cross-border basis and that we can have a plural offer to tourists who come here. In my closing remarks, I will, however, underline the point that we waste £2·5 million a year subsidising long-haul flights out of Belfast that have not been here for more than half a decade and are unlikely to be here in the near future. Most people who come to the North come via Dublin Airport. That will continue to be the case into the future. Let us give them a bright, shining, diverse and fascinating tourism offer on this island and in this part of the island, but let us not kid ourselves that we will replace Dublin Airport as a major international air hub any time soon, because we are not.

I wholeheartedly welcome the opportunity to speak on this important SDLP motion. It will come as no surprise to Members to hear that I am a proud south Armagh man, and why would I not be? South Armagh has some of the most compelling tourism assets in Ireland. It has historic sites that predate the pyramids and a myriad of heritage sites that beautifully and powerfully illustrate the shared tapestry of our history.

If you have never been to the top of Slieve Gullion and crawled into the court cairn there, which is the highest surviving court cairn in Ireland, I encourage you to see and experience it. I have made representations to Ministers here saying that I believe firmly that the corbelling of the court cairn should be repaired. It was opened in the '60s, when an archaeologist who borrowed a tractor from Sean O'Grady of Ballinaleck excavated the court cairn and removed the corbelling at the top. That corbelling should be replaced as it was so that the excitement of the experience for children who crawl into that court cairn can be increased.

Over the last number of years, I have worked alongside my local SDLP colleagues to advocate for the inclusion of County Armagh and County Down in the Ireland's Ancient East destination marketing brand. My rationale and determination in that regard are simple. It is about harnessing the potential of the tourism product in our region. It is about putting the spotlight on all that we have to offer and turning a hidden gem into the jewel of our tourism crown. That is where my focus and that of my party lie. The SDLP has been working with local tourism providers, statutory agencies, the Irish Government and all parties in building a strategy to significantly and sustainably boost cross-border tourism in south-east Ulster. Our case has been put forward so successfully that our proposal to include Armagh and Down in Ireland's Ancient East received cross-party and cross-community buy-in at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, even from the DUP.

There is a clear synchronicity between Armagh and Down's tourism offering and the four pillars of Ireland's Ancient East: ancient Ireland; Anglo Ireland; medieval Ireland; and early Christian Ireland. Each of the four pillars of Ireland's Ancient East can be found in my area or within a stone's throw of it, from Viking history and Norman castles in Carlingford, historic sites in south Armagh that predate the pyramids in Egypt, St Patrick's resting place in Downpatrick and the tomb of Brian Boru at St Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh, which is the seat of the Anglican Church in Ireland.

The tourism offering in Armagh and Down is as rich as it is diverse and presents a unique opportunity for the history and heritage of Ulster to secure a more prominent place in Ireland's Ancient East. The home of Orangeism is at Dan Winter's cottage near Loughgall. Near Armagh city, we have Eamhain Mhacha or Navan Fort, which is the mesmerising historical ancient capital of Ireland and which the Egyptians recorded on a prehistoric map. The Quaker village of Bessbrook manufactured linen and produced granite that was exported across the British Empire, and just around the corner in Derrymore House, the Act of Union was drafted.

I would struggle to find a better way to show that we are serious about a genuinely shared future. We should work together to see Fáilte Ireland market our shared history and our intertwined heritage around the world proudly and unapologetically. The motion gives us an opportunity to harness the power of our heritage and demonstrate that a rising tide really can lift all boats. I must also give an honourable mention to the Armagh Rhymers, who have been keeping Ireland's ancient Celtic traditions alive. I will never forget the day that they walked into my primary school and mesmerised every one of us with their rhyming.

In his maiden speech to the House of Commons over 40 years ago, Séamus Mallon rightly pointed to the fact that our history belongs to us all, simply by virtue of the fact that there are sites in south Armagh alone that predate Britain in Ireland, the Vikings in Ireland and even the Celts in Ireland.

It is on that basis that I commend the motion to the House in the strongest terms. Counties Armagh and Down are definitely a part of Ireland's Ancient East, and it time that we made that official so that we can reap the clear dividend from that for the communities that we all serve.

I call the Minister for the Economy, Conor Murphy. Minister, you have 10 minutes to respond.

Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

[Translation: Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker.]

I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate and thank Members for their contributions.

Tourism provides employment for 70,000 people here, 70% of whom work outside Belfast. That highlights the importance and the potential of tourism to the local economy, with places to see and visit in communities across the North. Its strong subregional presence means that tourism already has a sustainable basis for people across the North, wherever they live, to have the opportunity to earn a living in their neighbourhoods. For that reason, it is a key sector in delivering regional balance, which is one of my key priorities. Tourism also has the capacity to contribute to good jobs, by providing employment opportunities for all; to productivity, by embracing new and emerging technologies, both in the sector itself and in attracting people here; and to decarbonisation, because tourists are thinking about green issues when selecting their destinations, and Tourism NI already works closely with business operators to embed sustainability in how they deliver their business.

Tourism was identified as an area of cooperation under the Good Friday Agreement, recognising the potential for the growth of the sector on an all-island basis. That is why Tourism Ireland was established and tasked with promoting Ireland as a destination for visitors from across the globe. As Economy Minister, I will fund Tourism Ireland properly so that it has the resources to attract more people here. If we want the North to be part of a traveller's full Irish experience, it needs to be promoted in that way too.

In discussions with Minister Martin, the Tourism Minister in the South, I outlined the clear potential from extending Fáilte Ireland's regional brands into the North. The Wild Atlantic Way already stretches 2,500 kilometres from the Old Head of Kinsale in County Cork to the Inishowen peninsula in Donegal, a driving route that showcases visitor attractions along Ireland's rugged west coast. The coastline that embodies the spirit of the Wild Atlantic Way, shaped by the ocean, does not stop at Lough Foyle. It continues from Derry past Benone beach and Mussenden Temple and from there on to Dunluce Castle via the Giant's Causeway and beyond to Dunseverick Castle in Ballintoy. That has been recognised, with Ireland's three agencies — Tourism Ireland, Tourism Northern Ireland and Fáilte Ireland — already working collaboratively to bring together experiences for visitors on the Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway coastal route.

That Shared Island initiative, which is worth almost €8 million, will identify key discovery points along both existing routes. It is bringing the routes closer together through new signage and will provide a small capital grants scheme for tourism experiences. It will be backed up by a destination marketing plan along the routes, together with the aim of achieving longer visitor stays and greater economic benefits in the north-west and across the north coast. It places Derry as the destination city, and it opens up the opportunity of incorporating the Causeway coastal route into the northern section of the Wild Atlantic Way. The project reinforces the belief of Ministers North and South in the untapped benefits of all-island tourism and the opportunity that it provides to create good jobs in local communities. In that context, discussions continue on extending the Wild Atlantic Way branding to the North.

One of the amendments suggested including Counties Fermanagh and Tyrone in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, which I agree with. Fáilte Ireland's Hidden Heartlands focuses on the nature-based experiences of waterways and walking trails, stretching from north Cork up to Cavan and Leitrim. The peace and tranquillity of that landscape follows the winding trail of the River Shannon up to the Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark. The Fermanagh lakelands share those characteristics, and there is a natural fit for Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands to be extended further. There already is considerable collaboration between Cavan County Council and Fermanagh and Omagh District Council on tourism development. The extension of the Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands brand will only build on that good work, providing even more opportunities for sustainable economic growth in the north-west.

The third of Fáilte Ireland's regional brands is Ireland’s Ancient East. Starting at the south-eastern coast with Waterford and Wexford and extending northwards, it brings life to the culture, heritage and history of the region, drawing on Irish mythology and the Viking and Norman histories of the area.

It would take little imagination for the likes of Navan Fort, the Mournes and Strangford to be incorporated into that brand experience, along with the areas associated with St Patrick: Lecale, Downpatrick and Armagh. Linkages already exist in that area for tourists to explore, with the recent announcement of funding from the Shared Island Fund for the Narrow Water bridge, which will bring together Louth and the Mournes. I have agreed to meet representatives from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council to hear how parts of Armagh and Down might be included in Ireland's Ancient East.

The benefits that such regional brand opportunities can deliver is recognised in communities. My proposals have been developed following extensive engagement with councils and tourism operators on the ground. I have already been told clearly and repeatedly that there is a real appetite for those brand experiences to be extended to the North, and I welcome the views of all parties in the Chamber in support of that. People are rightly excited about the possibilities that the brands will provide by encouraging visitors to come here more often and stay with us for longer. Those on the ground are best placed to guide and deliver the needs of the industry. That is why I am establishing a tourism partnership board to deliver strategic actions for the sector by the sector.

I turn to the ETA. Seamless all-island travel is key to building on the growth that we have seen in our tourism sector since the Good Friday Agreement. I am therefore extremely concerned about the introduction of the British Government's electronic travel authorisation scheme and its potential to deter tourists from including the North in their itinerary. I see it as a real risk to the huge growth potential for tourism here. That view is shared by the industry. I welcome in particular the representations made by the Tourism Alliance.

In 2019, international visitors, who would require an ETA if it were to be introduced, contributed £220 million to the local economy, and that could be impacted on by the introduction of the ETA scheme. The bureaucracy and cost involved may deter many visitors who arrive in the South from travelling North. Given the fact that 70% of overseas holidaymakers come from the South, that poses a very serious threat. I am pleased to hear that those concerns are shared across the Benches.

The ETA is consistently raised as one of the tourism industry's biggest concerns. For that reason, I wrote to the British Minister of State for Legal Migration and the Border in April, seeking an urgent meeting to raise my concerns and find solutions that will protect our tourism industry. I have had no response to that letter. I intend to write again to seek an urgent meeting with the new British Home Secretary following the general election. In addition, given that the concerns about the ETA are shared across the political spectrum, my preference is for an agreed Executive position to be communicated to the British Home Office. I therefore intend to bring a paper to the Executive to seek their agreement to the First Minister and deputy First Minister also writing to the new British Home Secretary after the general election.

I turn to a number of the points that were raised during the debate. There were many consistent views, particularly in relation to the electronic travel authorisation scheme. There were a few broadcasts from various parts of the country for the tourism offering there. I do not disagree with any of those.

On amendment No 1, I find myself agreeing with the leader of the Opposition in that I do not think that there is a difficulty in having international brands that complement local brands. That is the experience. People will know of various advertisements that they see if they are considering going on an international trip and that, within those, there are subsectors of particular localised brands. I do not see a challenge in adopting those national brands and retaining localised brands, which give people who come to the area additional experiences and interest.

My concern with the DUP amendment is also in line with what the leader of the UUP expressed. Doug Beattie stated that "getting rid" of the ETA is "the best thing to do". I do not think that we should set short the Executive's position. I want to see the Executive challenge in a robust way the very existence of the ETA. I get where the DUP is coming from in its amendment. I do not think that we will necessarily seek to divide the House on it, but my proposition to the Executive will be for them to press not for a limitation on its use but for no use. We are getting the clear message from industry that anything that creates an additional bureaucratic hurdle will be a deterrent to people coming to the North. Our best and first option should be to get rid of the ETA. As I said, I do not see any need to divide the House on that. We have a fairly common approach; it is just a matter of nuance. Hopefully, the Executive will back my proposition so that it will be not only me going to the Home Office but the First Minister and deputy First Minister.

The Chair of the Economy Committee raised questions about the tourism partnership board. As he mentioned, we have put the partnership board together to enable cross-departmental engagement on relevant issues. The membership will be drawn from relevant Departments as well as including representatives from the tourism sector, the hospitality industry and local government. Once finalised, letters of invitation will be issued. I intend to provide the board with a draft action plan. The final document, however, will be co-designed by the board, and I am happy to share with the Committee the terms of reference and any further information and updates that it wishes.

Time is up, Minister.

I beg your pardon; I was in full flow.

I know.

I support the motion and the Sinn Féin amendment. I do not wish to oppose the other amendment, but my position is that we need to take a strong and robust position on the ETA.

I call Philip McGuigan to wind up on amendment No 2. You have three minutes.

Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

[Translation: Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker.]

The first thing to say from a Sinn Féin MLA's point of view is that there is a rational, common-sense argument that policy integration across all areas of government on this island will improve outcomes for the citizens of Ireland whom we are elected to represent.

Now that I know that I have only three minutes to speak on the motion, to recap what everybody said, there is, by and large, broad support for the motion. Different people have different emphases. There is agreement on support for our tourism sector and on the need to work together on the island to do that. There is certainly agreement among all Members who spoke that we need to work to remove any barriers that would hinder that, the ETA being a clear example. As the Minister and others have said, there is, perhaps, a difference in emphasis, but I accept what the Minister said about amendment No 1 and finding a working way forward whereby he hopes to get the Executive to reach an agreed position.

As I said, there is broad agreement among all the parties, with slightly different emphasis on some of this stuff, such as how closely we should work together. Everybody who spoke clearly identified and pointed out the many places, attractions and offerings that we have in the North that bring tourists here. Members pointed out some other complexities that we need to work on.

Sinn Féin wants to build a more inclusive and sustainable economy for all. We want to work with others to make that happen. Tourism, despite its challenges, is bouncing back after the pandemic, and we need to build on that. The Minister mentioned the fact that 70% of jobs in the tourism and hospitality sector are outside Belfast. It is a sector that brings regional balance, and we need to ensure that that is built on by maximising our tourism potential, thereby benefiting the many tourism and hospitality businesses, those who are employed in the sector and the communities that tourists visit. Full potential will be reached only by working on an all-island basis.

As Sinn Féin's tourism spokesperson, I, like others, have raised the compelling case for expanding into the North Fáilte Ireland's successful tourism and marketing strategies, such as the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland's Ancient East and, as called for by our amendment, the Hidden Heartlands. Tourist experiences and how they are marketed are fundamental to the attractiveness of any destination. As others have said, we can do two things at once: the Causeway coastal route where I live can benefit while maintaining its unique identity from being on the Wild Atlantic Way.

I had a lot more to say, but my time is up —

It is.

— so I am happy to support this.

Thank you, Philip. I call the second Phillip, Phillip Brett, to wind up on amendment No 1. You have three minutes, Phillip.

Thank you, Madam Deputy Principal Speaker. The collegiality that dominates our Economy Committee has transcended it and come into the Chamber, which is good to see. With that, I welcome the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party to our Committee.

Members made a number of important contributions. Miss Murphy and Mr McMurray spoke eloquently of the tourism offering of their constituencies and the need for them to be included.

Mr McNulty gave a helicopter view — pardon the pun — of the great tourism offering in his constituency. I will meet him for some apple pie with Hilda at Dan Winter's cottage.

Mr Honeyford summed up the Alliance Party's position well. He said a lot of nice words but not what those words stood for. I am therefore not quite sure whether the Alliance Party is voting for the motion or the amendments, but he eloquently outlined the offering in Lagan Valley and his party's commitment to it.

Mr O'Toole rightly raised the issue of my mistake in amendment No 1. I simply embraced the giant, and perhaps I was writing my literature for the Westminster election in North Belfast rather than the amendment for today's debate. He also, as he consistently does, raised the issue of direct flights from the United States, and it is something on which we will all work together to try to deliver.

Mr Beattie, the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, rightly highlighted the commitment in the Command Paper to achieving pre-clearance and the need for us to do work on VAT to support our hospitality sector.

The Minister gave a useful update on the tourism partnership board, and the Committee looks forward to seeing its membership. I am sure that it reflects and is inclusive of all aspects of our tourism offering right across Northern Ireland. He did not get a chance to update the House on the air connectivity review that his Department commissioned, but I know that he will keep the House abreast of developments.

There is a consensus in the Chamber that we all value the role of Tourism NI's branding, but we want to see continued cooperation across this island and all the islands. Hopefully, Members can find it in their hearts to support the DUP amendment and work together to achieve a collective position.

Thank you, Phillip. I call Cara Hunter to conclude and make a winding-up speech on the motion for the Opposition. The Member has five minutes.

Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. First, I thank the Minister for being here. I wish him all the best. It is great to see him back in the Chamber.

It gives me great pleasure to wind on the motion. I argue that mine is one of the prettiest constituencies: it is beautiful, coastal and focused on tourism. I am therefore delighted to speak about all-Ireland tourism today.

Much like the lush green pastures that roll from Armagh into Monaghan, or the peaks of the Mournes that gaze majestically to the tops of the Cooley peninsula, and just as the fish swim without a thought through Lough Foyle, between Donegal and Derry, our island is shared and connected by geography, history, culture and family. Our island — our Ireland — must be understood, communicated and sold as one.

No matter what Members' views are on our constitutional arrangements or future, it is the responsibility of the House to ensure the best outcomes for our people and their prosperity. To ensure the best outcomes for tourism, we must endeavour to convey, market and sell the island as one: a beautiful, rich and mythical destination.

Strand two of the Good Friday Agreement commits us to working on a cross-border basis on tourism, so we must work together to sell this beautiful place that we all call home: the unmissable jewel at the heart of what the writer and Ulster Presbyterian William Drennan called the "Emerald Isle".

Last year, nearly 32 million people passed through Dublin Airport into Ireland. We must do all that we can to ensure that those who holiday in Ireland holiday in all of the island. In the North of Ireland — Northern Ireland — we have so much to offer. For example, in my constituency, we have Dunluce Castle. If Members have not visited it, I suggest that they do.

Many Members, like me, will have met people abroad who have told them about their wonderful experiences of holidaying in Ireland, be it sipping a pint of the black stuff in the Gravity Bar, kissing the Blarney Stone or strolling through the beautiful streets of Galway. Too often, however, they recount trips to the island in which the North was overlooked and forgotten. By committing to an all-Ireland tourism strategy, we ensure that tourists will not fail to take the opportunity to experience the breathtaking beauty of our counties, that they will receive the warm embrace of our people and that they will make memories that will be recounted to others around the world about our humour, Northern soul and the place that we are lucky to call home.

The now iconic zigzag sign of the Wild Atlantic Way has become a beacon for the many tourists exploring the unparalleled beauty of the island. The simplicity of its success is undoubted. Although so many tourists breathe in the beauty of sights from Cork to Donegal, the abrupt end of the journey at the Donegal/Derry border, however, makes no sense and comes out of nowhere.

I will just touch on some Members' comments. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the debate. Áine Murphy made an important point. She talked about the importance of Fermanagh and Tyrone as Ireland's Hidden Heartlands. I am a former Tyrone representative in council, and I completely agree that it is stunning. I have done the Stairway to Heaven, and it is breathtaking for two reasons: it is absolutely beautiful, and it is a very steep incline. Mr Honeyford said that he believes in better and that we can do much more with our tourism and attract more visitors. A real barrier to that is the dire and urgent need for improved infrastructure. I thought that that rebalancing of connectivity was really important. Mr Beattie touched on the importance of the hospitality sector in Northern Ireland, which has undoubted potential, but we must invest in upskilling our people.

The Giant's Causeway must be understood to be as essential as Newgrange, the Titanic museum as unmissable as the Guinness Storehouse, and Crumlin Road Gaol as much a must-see as Kilmainham. By linking the Wild Atlantic Way to the Causeway Coast and by extending Armagh and Down to Ireland's Ancient East, and by placing Derry as a cosmopolitan centre of Ireland's north-west, we stand to capitalise on our tourism potential.

I call on all Members to remember that there is nothing to fear in working together on matters of clear mutual interest. Whether you bounce to the beat of a bodhrán or a Lambeg drum, much like the Irish rugby team, our shared success is best realised standing "Shoulder to shoulder" and together as one. I encourage Members to support this important motion.

Question, That amendment No 1 be made, put and agreed to.

Question, That amendment No 2 be made, put and agreed to.

Main Question, as amended, accordingly agreed to. Resolved:

That this Assembly notes the importance of tourism as a driver of the Northern Ireland economy; further notes that a significant port of entry for Northern Ireland visitors remains Dublin Airport; expresses concern that without appropriate mitigations, including an effective communications plan, the UK Government’s Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme poses a risk to in-bound tourism in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic; calls on the Minister for the Economy to work with the Irish Government to explore links between the Wild Atlantic Way with the Causeway Coastal Route, promote Londonderry and the North West as the destination linking both jurisdictions and include counties Armagh and Down in Ireland’s Ancient East and counties Fermanagh and Tyrone in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, whilst continuing to value and promote Northern Ireland’s own distinctive tourism brand Embrace a Giant; and further calls on the Minister for the Economy to work with the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Tourism Alliance to implement a limited and time-bound exemption of between five and seven days from the Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme for tourists and tour operators travelling between Irish Republic and Northern Ireland, and to report to the Assembly on the progress of these issues no later than September 2024.

Members should now take their ease.