Anne Ferris
Question:47. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Finance the impact the retention of the 9% VAT rate has on the tourism sector in Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6034/14]
View answerThursday, 6 February 2014
Questions (47)
Written answers
Statistics in relation to the economic impact of the 9% reduced VAT rate on the tourism sector are not available on a county basis. However, evidence on a national basis can indicate local trends. In this respect, the most recent data available from the CSO of economic growth broken down by sector relates to the year 2012, and shows that there was a year-on-year growth in gross value added for the accommodation and food services sector, compared to 2011. Expenditure by overseas travellers to Ireland recorded an increase of 0.6% in 2012 compared with 2011. In addition, over the first three quarters of 2013 there was a 13% increase in expenditure when compared with the same period in 2012.
There is a clear impact in terms of employment in the accommodation and food service sector which has increased by over 16% between the period Q2 2011 to Q3 2013, an increase of over 18,000 jobs in seasonally-adjusted terms. In terms of trips to Ireland, the total number of trips made to Ireland was up by 7.2 per cent in 2013 when compared with 2012 and up 7.4 per cent compared to 2011.