Vol. 418 No. 6
18 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline (1) the number of tourists, both national and international, who visited each of Ireland's national parks in the past three years and (2) the estimated total tourist expenditure in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
There were 893,500 visitors to the three national parks at which the Office of Public Works has provided visitor facilities, to date, in the period 1989-91; 483,000 to Killarney National Park; 293,500 to Glenveagh National Park and 177,000 to Connemara National Park. The estimated expenditure by these visitors at the national parks was £2,061,000 over the three years. This figure represents the money spent on admission charges and the purchase of ancillary items at the parks. While the local economies in which the parks are situated have benefited greatly as a result of these visits, I am not in a position to quantify this in monetary terms. The tourist industry recognises the value and importance of national parks as focal attractions for visitors and they form an important role in Bord Fáilte programmes to attract overseas visitors to Ireland.
I have set out in tabular form the breakdown of the number of visitors to each site for each of the three years in question together with the estimated expenditure at each site. This will be circulated in the Official Report.
National Parks
Visitor Number and Estimated Expenditure 1989-1991
|
1989 |
1990 |
1991 |
|
|
Glenveagh National Park |
|||
|
Visitor Numbers |
89,500 |
102,000 |
102,000 |
|
Estimated Expenditure |
£186,000 |
£218,000 |
£218,000 |
|
Killarney National Park |
|||
|
Visitor Numbers |
152,000 |
104,000 |
167,000 |
|
Estimated Expenditure |
£385,000 |
£437,500 |
£443,000 |
|
Connemara National Park |
|||
|
Visitor Numbers |
27,500 |
40,000 |
49,500 |
|
Estimated Expenditure |
£40,000 |
£59,000 |
£75,150 |
