Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said his party will increase visitor numbers to 8 million by 2015 and create up to 15,000 extra jobs directly in the sector.
Mr Martin was speaking at the launch of his party's tourism strategy in Ballina, Co Mayo today.
He said they would achieve the increase in visitor numbers through competitive airport and port charges, tourist-friendly immigration and visa arrangements, and co-operative marketing support programmes with airlines and ferry companies.
Businesses in the sector would be helped to reduce their costs and get access to appropriate levels of credit, especially working capital, he said. Mr Martin did not state how the banks would be encouraged to provide capital to the sector.
"We will work to maximise the economic and social potential of the tourism industry as a key factor in Ireland's export-led economic recovery," said Mr Martin.
"We will also continue to seek opportunities to deliver better value for money through the international and domestic marketing budgets by focusing on the markets most likely to deliver growth, using innovative marketing campaigns and programmes and greater use of e-marketing."
The party wants to extend the Section 481 film investment relief to 2016 to maintain the country's attractiveness as a location for film production.
The arts and culture sector would continue to be represented at the Cabinet table, under a Fianna Fáil government, he added.
Fine Gael's plans for the tourism industry include abolishing the airport departure tax; reducing the lower 13.5 per cent VAT rate to 10 per cent, which includes hotel accommodation and restaurants; and asking the Competition Authority to carry out an investigation into predatory pricing and reckless trading in the hotels sector.
Labour would initiate new marketing campaigns in emerging markets such as China, India, Japan and the Middle East and reform the tourist visa process. They also say they would prioritise event tourism and work on attracting large conferences to Ireland.