I welcome the enlargement of the European Union, which was celebrated so warmly by people throughout this island on 1 May last. I consider it as a great opportunity and not as a threat. I disagree with the Deputy's assertion that we have been unable "to develop fully a foothold in the continental European market" so far. We had 6.3 million visitors to our shores last year, of which 1.5 million or almost one in four came from continental Europe. We continue to see strong growth from Latin countries in particular. Visits from continental Europe were at record levels in 2003. Central Statistics Office figures for the first two months of 2004 indicate a growth of 11.5% in visitor numbers from continental Europe over the same period in 2003.
I accept that the delivery of value for money is a common concern across all markets. If there is a specific inhibiting factor in developing our mainland European business, however, it does not relate to marketing or the fashionability of Ireland. It is more likely to relate to access, in my view, as there is still quite a way to go in developing additional routes from mainland Europe to Ireland.
The international tourism market is fiercely competitive and will become more so. I do not doubt that the new EU member states will add to the intensity of that competition, but they have been competitors for some years. Ireland has had to work in tough and competitive tourism markets for decades. It has had to compete with the strongest players and to pitch for business against long-established destinations with natural climatic advantages or cosmopolitan architectural heritage that may have outshone those of Ireland. This country has taken on this competition and succeeded in selling its unique proposition. Tourism Ireland, which is a professional and well-organised marketing organisation, is a great North-South success story. It is delivering for both parts of the island. The marketing of Irish tourism is recognised internationally as a highly sophisticated and successful operation.
If we maintain the key pillars of the Irish tourism proposition, deliver value for money and continue our high-quality marketing, we will not have much to fear from our new EU partners. We may have much to gain over time, however, given that the accession countries represent a population increase to the EU of nearly 20%. The outbound travel spending of the ten new member states came to €8.2 billion last year, suggesting that a market is available for Irish tourism. Ireland has experienced steady growth in visitor numbers from eastern Europe over the past four years, albeit from a low base, most notably from Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary.
