£1bn plan for tourism training presented to McDaid

An investment plan costing just under £1 billion (€1.27 billion) aimed primarily at the marketing and training needs of the tourism industry, was presented to the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Mr McDaid, yesterday, writes Tim O'Brien, Regional Development Correspondent. The plan, Tourism Investment Requirements 2000-2006, which the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation (ITIC) hopes will be built into the forthcoming National Development Plan, is to be largely financed by the industry itself - plus revenue from a controversial "tourist levy" which the Government says it needs to finance its own contribution.