To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what inter-departmental discussions he has had in regard to a strategic approach to sustainable tourism.

My Department is represented on the Department for the Economy’s (DfE) Tourism Recovery Steering Group, chaired by the Minister for the Economy and the Tourism Industry Taskforce Working Group chaired by Tourism NI’s Chief Executive. The development of the Tourism Recovery Action Plan by this group includes actions to support the delivery of tourism recovery that is sustainable for the economy, society and the environment.

My Department is planning to launch a public consultation on a new Rural Policy Framework later this summer and one of the thematic pillars within the framework is Sustainable Tourism, examining how we can maximise the contribution it makes to rural society. In developing this new Rural Policy Framework, my department established 5 thematic working groups which included representatives from government departments, local council and other key stakeholders.