Vol. 477 No. 4
89 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the plans, if any, he has to introduce more accurate assessment of tourist numbers, bed nights and revenue; the proposals, if any, he has put to the Central Statistics Office in this regard; if he has satisfied himself with current practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9459/97]
As I said in response to a similar question last October, official statistics on the number of overseas visitors to Ireland and their expenditure while in Ireland are collected and published by the Central Statistics Office. This information is compiled from two large sample surveys conducted continuously throughout the year at each of the major air and sea ports and covering both incoming and departing passengers. The sample size in each survey is in the order of 350,000 passengers per annum. The fact that we are an island nation allows us to implement sample surveys at airports and seaports very efficiently.
Furthermore, for the first time in 1997 the CSO is implementing a survey of domestic and out-bound tourism in response to Eurostat requirements for statistics within EU member states. Hitherto, Bord Fáilte have surveyed domestic tourism. The CSO survey will cover a larger sample and will be conducted at more frequent intervals.
Our Central Statistics Office operates as part of the Eurostat regime and experts in the compilation and methodology of statistics are in constant contact with a view to applying the best operational methods. I am satisfied on the basis of expert advice from Bord Fáilte and the CSO that our current practices are as good if not better than any in Europe.
