Dear Madam, - I have to say I was both bemused and amused by John Coyle’s recent comments about “neglect” and a “lack of vision” on tourism in Fermanagh during my tenure as Minister at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment. Laughably, Mr Coyle also alleges there has been no enthusiasm on my part for promoting tourism in Fermanagh.

He talks about signature projects, but of course if he was across the detail, he would know that the designation of five signature projects was a Westminster decision which occurred well before devolution. Those who do know what is going on regarding tourism, know that under devolution Fermanagh and its lakelands is one of nine key tourism destination areas in Northern Ireland.

He also talks about reducing the VAT for the tourism and hospitality sector. Far from being a radical idea, this is something I and my party colleagues are historically on record as supporting – but of course it is a Westminster issue and my party colleagues have been and will continue to lobby for a reduction.

Anyone who knows me or who has bothered to attend any events or announcements either locally or across Northern Ireland and beyond will be aware that I am known for taking any and every opportunity to talk about Fermanagh and how beautiful it is.

Let’s remember that he makes his comments less than two years after the world’s media and some of the world’s most powerful leadersdescended on Fermanagh for the G8 Summit. With the sun shining and the Fermanagh lakes looking stunning in the background, cameras from around the globe beamed breathtaking images of our county to an international audience of millions.

Let’s remember that he makes his comments less than four months after Belleek was given the accolade of being the first WorldHost Village in Northern Ireland. The WorldHost accolade is a very well-deserved achievement for all the hugely successful businesses in Belleek and is testament to their collective commitment. I’m sure all of those who have worked so hard to make this possible for our home county would not take kindly to being told by Mr Coyle that there is no vision for tourism here.

Let’s remember that he makes his comments less than four weeks before the ‘Wilde Weekend’, a new event for Fermanagh focusing on Oscar Wilde and how inspired he was by our landscape and lakelands.

Let’s also remember that he makes his comments less than three months before this year’s Enniskillen International Beckett Festival – an event supported by Tourism NI which is now in its fourth year and has attracted media and international visitors from all over the world.

There has been good news on the jobs front, with 637 jobs created in the constituency in the 13/14 financial year and further announcements this financial year at Webtech and Lakeland Trading Solutions in Enniskillen and GR White & Sons in Tempo.

And let’s not forget that in March of this year, the Killyhevlin Hotel was the venue for the announcement of the £250m Gas to the West Scheme, which will bring gas to Enniskillen, Derrylin, Omagh, Dungannon, Coalisland, Cookstown and Magherafelt. The NI Executive is investing up to £32.5m in the scheme, which will bring greater energy choice for consumers as well as increasing the potential for businesses and the public sector to use a cleaner, more efficient fuel.

So I think Mr Coyle would do well to refresh his own memory, look around and take notice of the great strides that have been made, are being made and will continue to be made to further boost business and tourism in Fermanagh before he makes himself look any more out of touch with reality than he already has.

Yours faithfully Arlene Foster MLA