Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Question:319 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the tourist numbers in each tourist area for 1998 and to date in 1999. [19983/99]
Written Answers. - Tourism Industry.
Tourism and travel statistics for the first six months of 1999 were published by the Central Statistics Office – CSO – on 1 October 1999. These show overseas visitors to Ireland in the first half of 1999 at 2,684,000, an increase of 10 per cent on figures for the same period in 1998. The Central Statistics Office has also published figures for overseas tourism revenue for the first quarter of 1999 which shows revenue increasing by 16.5 per cent on the same period in 1998, to £388 million.
The CSO do not compile statistics on a regional basis. Bord Fáilte has published estimates for each region of overseas visitors and revenue generated in 1998 which I have asked Bord Fáilte to forward directly to the Deputy. I understand from Bord Fáilte that similar estimates for 1999 will not be available until final national figures for the full year are available from CSO.