Vol. 523 No. 4
4 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Taoiseach the steps being taken to provide more detailed and accurate statistics in regard to tourism, particularly in relation to differentiating between journeys from abroad for commercial or family reasons and regular tourism; if the Central Statistics Office has had discussions with Bord Fáilte in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21126/00]
The differentiation referred to by the Deputy is already in place. Overseas visits to Ireland are classified according to the four way classification of reason for journey, which distinguishes: business; holiday, leisure and recreation; visits to friends and relatives; and other.
This categorisation is based on World Tourism Organisation and EU recommendations and has been agreed with Bord Fáilte.
When were these statistics compiled? The figures being used at present are unsound and the necessary information has not been compiled. We should compile it now while resources are available. When did Bord Fáilte and the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation start compiling figures under these headings?
Bord Fáilte and the Central Statistics Office have been producing this type of statistics for a number of years. They come from three sources: figures are received from transport companies; a country of residence survey is done which estimates distribution of routes by country of residence and covers approximately 274,000 people; and the CSO operates a passenger card inquiry which is used to estimate, for various areas of residence, the reason for the journey, length of stay, expenditure and fare cost.
The visiting friends and relative, VFR category has been in use for a number of years. When I was Minister of State with responsibility for tourism many years ago the categorisation VFR, as opposed to business travellers and holidaymakers, was in use. The figures are produced on a quarterly basis.
How much funding does the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation give to Bord Fáilte to carry out such surveys?
The Minister of State is not responsible for funding.
Does the Minister of State agree that Bord Fáilte and the Department are defining the market in terms of revenue rather than numbers, that this is too blunt an instrument and that we need a more definite analysis? Does he agree that funding should be made available to Bord Fáilte to carry out such analysis?
Matters related to policy are not a matter for the Minister of State.
I will examine the point made by the Deputy. I do not think it is a matter of funding. The figures are produced by Bord Fáilte and the Central Statistics Office from within their present funding. I am not aware of any demand for additional funding from the Central Statistics Office or from Bord Fáilte and I understand the Minister, Deputy McDaid, is not either. There is not a demand for additional funding. The statistics are compiled within the current budgets.
A great deal of money will be available for marketing in the next few years. How can the weakest areas be targeted if proper statistics are not available? Will the Minister advise Bord Fáilte to compile its own statistics because those available are not useful to the tourism industry.
We have not received any great representations from either Bord Fáilte or the CSO to the effect that they are short on statistics or statistical support. I will discuss the matter with them.
5 Mr. Sheehan asked the Taoiseach the numbers of tourists who have visited here in the period 1 January to 30 September 2000; and if this number is on a par with previous years. [20963/00]
Details are published quarterly relating to the number of overseas visits to Ireland. In the first six months of the year there were 2,830,000 visits, an increase of 146,000 on the corresponding figure for 1999. Corresponding figures for the first six months of the last five years are as follows: 1995, 1,733,000; 1996, 2,002,000; 1997, 2,193,000; 1998, 2,435,000; and 1999, 2,684,000.
Are the figures quoted applicable to tourists only or do they include visiting relatives from England and vice versa as well as business travellers to Ireland who could not be classified as tourists?
The phrase "overseas visitors to Ireland" includes all categories. The figure for the most recent six month period is 2,830,000. In reply to an earlier parliamentary question, I gave a breakdown of this figure as between visiting relatives and friends and business travellers. Emigration and immigration statistics are accounted for separately.
Does the Minister of State have the figures for the numbers of British tourists in the period set out in the question?
They are available but I do not have them with me.
Are there significant variations or differences as between nationalities? Are the figures for the numbers of British and American tourists up or down? There must be some significance. For instance, there has been a decrease in the numbers of German tourists in recent years. What is the overall trend?
As I was not asked that question, I do not have the reply. I understand from the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation that the numbers of American tourists are up and that the UK market is problematic. That is the general trend.
That trend was not evident in west Cork during the last season.
