David Andrews
Question:278 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the most recent figures in economic terms, including employment figures, of tourism's contribution to the GNP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22193/96]
Written Answers. - Tourism Earnings.
The Central Statistics Office estimates that in 1995 foreign exchange earnings from visitors to Ireland totalled £1,677 billion. This revenue coupled with estimated domestic tourism expenditure in the same year of £625 million represented 6.4 per cent of GNP. In the same year tourism accounted for 8.3 per cent of total employment in the economy or an estimated 102,000 jobs.
This year the CSO estimate that overseas visitor numbers have increased by a further 11 per cent to over 3.8 million in the first nine months of this year. Their estimate for foreign exchange earnings from visitors for the first half of 1996 is £777 million — an increase of over 16 per cent on the same period in 1995. I am confident that Irish tourism will continue to make an increasingly important contribution to prosperity and employment in the years ahead.