Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 6 Mar 2001

Vol. 532 No. 1

Written Answers. - Tourism Industry.

Ivan Yates

Question:

45 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he has satisfied himself that the tourist numbers for the year 2000 matched the Government's expectations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6659/01]

John Perry

Question:

50 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he has had a meeting with Bord Fáilte in order to be appraised of the Bord Fáilte marketing strategy for 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6680/01]

Ivor Callely

Question:

82 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the likely number of tourists expected to visit here in 2001; the estimated number who will visit the Dublin region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6400/01]

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Dr. McDaid):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 45, 50 and 82 together.

The official tourism figures for the year 2000 as compiled by the Central Statistics Office will not be available until the end of this month or early April.

However, I am informed by Bord Fáilte that preliminary indications suggest that the number of overseas visitors last year will more or less match Government expectations. An increase of 6% to 6.3 million visitors was targeted and the latest forecasts are that the final visitor numbers will come in slightly short of this total.

The revenue forecast for 2000 of 7% set by Bord Fáilte within the Government target of an average annual increase of 5% over the period of the National Development Plan, 2000-2006, is likely to be substantially exceeded. The CSO statistics for the first nine months of last year showed a 20% increase in foreign exchange earnings. This higher than expected performance in revenue earnings appears to be as a result of the relative strength of the dollar and sterling, inflation and increased market share for Irish carriers.

In early December I launched the 2001 tourism marketing plans at a formal industry function in Dublin. The plans, which were developed by Bord Fáilte in conjunction with the Tourism Marketing Partnership, will involve the largest ever commitment of public and private sector marketing funding amounting in total to approximately £100 million. This funding will enable a series of targeted initiatives to be undertaken across all our major markets, including Britain which was the subject of a major consultancy review commissioned by Bord Fáilte last year. A target of a 5% increase in visitor numbers to 6.6 million and 6% in revenue has been set by Bord Fáilte for 2001.

While I am in constant contact with Bord Fáilte to ensure that the risk of foot and mouth disease does not jeopardise the medium to long-term prospects of the tourism sector, forecast for tourism numbers for this year will be kept under review in light of the impact of measures to prevent the disease on tourism performance.