asked the Taoiseach if he will request the Central Statistics Office to prepare and make available an estimate of the number of visitors who came into the State in each of the last five years, showing, if possible, the number of such visitors who were tourists as distinct from persons visiting their relatives, the countries from which such tourists came, and the mode of transport utilised by them to come into the State.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tourist Traffic.
The Central Statistics Office has been able to prepare and has published in the September, 1953, issue of the Irish Trade Journal and Statistical Bulletin estimates of the number of visitors to this country in respect of the years 1951 and 1952 giving some of the information requested by the Deputy. Corresponding estimates for the year 1953 are being compiled and I anticipate that they will be available in about one month's time. These estimates are largely based on the Sample Passenger Card Inquiry and, while it has hitherto not been possible to provide estimates of the numbers of visitors by country of permanent residence, it is hoped to make such estimates for 1953, though this will be possible only for countries from which substantial numbers of visitors came.
It is not possible to make any estimates for 1950 or earlier years and I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving the available relevant information for the years 1951 and 1952 relating to visitors who travelled via Britain or the Six Counties. In addition it has been estimated that in 1952 the number of persons who visited this country from overseas and who did not travel via Britain or the Six Counties was about 20,000.
Following is the statement:—
TABLE 1.—NUMBER OF VISITS OF PERSONS, WHO TRAVELLED VIA BRITAIN OR THE SIX COUNTIES IN 1951 AND 1952.
|
Route |
Number of Visits* |
|
|
1951 |
1952 |
|
|
Britain: |
||
|
Sea |
519 |
536 |
|
Air |
75 |
90 |
|
Six Counties: |
||
|
Rail |
535 |
405 |
|
Road (Omnibus) |
641 |
545 |
|
Road (Private) |
(a) |
2,214 |
|
Total |
1,770 (b) |
3,790 |
* Includes all visits of up to 1 year's duration.
(a) Not available.(b)Excluding movement by road in private vehicle.
TABLE 2.—NUMBER OF VISITS OF PERSONS, WHO TRAVELLED VIA BRITAIN OR THE SIX COUNTIES IN 1952, CLASSIFIED BY REASON FOR JOURNEY.
|
Reason for Journey |
Sea |
Air |
Rail |
Road (Omnibus) |
Road (Private) |
Total |
|
Thousands |
||||||
|
Tourist |
220 |
44 |
208 |
296 |
1,217 |
1,985 |
|
Visit to relatives |
270 |
27 |
115 |
56 |
175 |
643 |
|
Business |
28 |
17 |
51 |
189 |
332 |
617 |
|
Other (including not stated) |
18 |
2 |
31 |
4 |
490 |
545 |
|
Total |
536 |
90 |
405 |
545 |
2,214 |
3,790 |