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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Oct 1994

Vol. 445 No. 6

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Tourism Growth.

Robert Molloy

Question:

54 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade his views on OECD studies which show a lack of growth in Irish tourism as a percentage of worldwide travel and tourism between the years 1991 and 1994; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [704/94]

Latest information from the OECD indicates that visitor numbers in the OECD area increased by 5 per cent in 1992 over 1991 and by 1.6 per cent in 1993 over 1992. The corresponding figures for Ireland show growth of 4.4 per cent. and 4.9 per cent respectively, followed by a 6.6 per cent increase in 1993 over 1992. Moreover, the indexed growth for Ireland's tourism receipts has exceeded the average for all OECD countries, and OECD European countries, over the last five years.

I am not sure from what figures the Minister is quoting, but the OECD studies I examined show a lack of growth in the Irish tourism industry in comparison with many other countries throughout the world covered by the OECD studies. Surely the Minister will accept that tourism is an industry in which enormous levels of growth have been achieved in other countries. The Minister may be quoting an average to seek to bring down the figure for all countries. Of the OECD countries included in these studies Ireland does not feature very highly in the level of growth attained in the tourism industry. There is a tendency to pump out figures claiming we are doing exceptionally well but in a world context, certainly in an OECD context, from the studies I looked at recently we are not doing very well. Surely there is greater potential in the tourism industry than we seem to be achieving. We spoke earlier about the operational programme and we all hope there will be substantial growth, but looking back on what we have done — the only comparison we can make is on past achievements, not future expectations — there seem to be some levels of growth but very small compared to achievements in other countries.

I agree with Deputy Molloy that there is considerable potential for increased growth in Irish tourism. By the end of this decade tourism will account, in revenue terms, for about 10 per cent of total world trade. It is the fastest growing segment of any industry——

We are getting a very small slice of it.

I hope Ireland will be able to get a share of the increasing market. In regard to the figures, according to the famous quotation, there are lies, damn lies and statistics, and it depends on how one reads them. Deputy Molloy read the statistics in one way and I read them in another, but we are talking about the same report. In the last five years Ireland has shown tourism growth figures in excess of OECD European countries. However, I would not like to be complacent. I agree there is considerable potential for increased growth in Irish tourism and we want to get our share of an everincreasing market.

I do not understand why the Minister is so reluctant to admit that the growth in tourism has been phenomenal and that our proportion of that growth has not been impressive in world terms. We should deal with these matters in a realistic way instead of having PR hype behind every statement that we are doing outstandingly well. We are not getting a huge proportion of the growth in tourism and that is clearly borne out by the OECD report.

I do not know from what figures the Deputy is quoting——

Unfortunately I do not have them here.

——but I can produce tables which show that Irish tourism growth is in excess of the average for OECD countries, including OECD European countries. The growth rate in the past five years in tourism has been exceptional in Irish terms. I am not for one moment suggesting we cannot do better, otherwise there would be no point in setting ambitious targets.

It is not impressive in world terms.

From our analysis of the figures taken from the same report to which the Deputy is referring, Ireland has done better than our competitors in the OECD. I am simply quoting from the tables I have here and I can make them available to the Deputy.

I will let the Minister have a copy of the OECD report from which I am quoting.

It is the same report.

Will the Minister agree that since 1960 Ireland's share of the world market has declined from 2 per cent to 0.9 per cent and that its share of the European market declined from 2.7 per cent to about 1.5 per cent in 1993? For example, in 1993, we attracted 18,000 Japanese to Ireland whereas Great Britain attracted 468,000 and we attracted 422,000 Americans whereas Great Britain attracted 3,319,000. We have been performing very well with limited resources, particularly in terms of marketing by Bord Fáilte, but there is major potential for the future. There is major growth in the market and we must capture our share.

I agree there is tremendous growth in the market and we hope to get our fair share of an evergrowing market. In the past five years growth in Irish tourism has outperformed that of our competitors. Statistics look impressive when starting from a low base — for example, if a person earning £100 a week receives a 20 per cent increase he will get £120 whereas if a person earning £400 a week receives a 20 per cent increase he will get £480.

What will he get if he is on the Taoiseach's salary and receives a 20 per cent increase?

Statistics in this regard may not be very reliable, but we have been performing exceptionally well in Irish terms in recent years and I hope we will get a greater share of world tourism growth in future years. I am not being complacent, if that was the case there would be no point in putting programmes in place. Deputy Deenihan has given very interesting figures on the Far East.

The Minister is complacent, particularly regarding statistics — and their source — on tourism growth. Agencies in the mid-west claimed a huge growth in the American market this year, but there is a black hole in these figures because the people did not come to Ennis, they were not to be seen on the streets of Limerick and when I was in Sligo recently I did not see them there. Where did all these American tourists go in 1994?

Baldonnel.

I suppose they are queuing to see the people in Baldonnel. Since the Minister is undertaking a root and branch change in his Department he has an opportunity to change the way statistics are compiled. There is a black hole in Irish tourism statistics and it is the Minister's duty to change that system.

I will have to give further thought to this matter. Carrier figures show that there was a 15 per cent increase in the number of North American tourists to Ireland this year. These people entered the country either through Dublin or Shannon and Deputy Carey is suggesting that they then disappeared.

They could have stayed aboard the aircraft.

The number of tourists to Ireland this year, particularly from North America, has increased.

Not from Europe.

A few months ago some friends of mine found it impossible to find accommodation in the Shannon region; everywhere was fully booked. While I am aware that Deputy Carey represents the people of County Clare well he is using scare tactics. This is not ad idem with the facts.

The Minister had heard of "peaks".

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