asked the Taoiseach if he will state the number and principal countries of origin of tourists who visited this country in 1956, 1957 and 1958 to date.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tourist Statistics.
The available statistical information in relation to tourism in this country in 1956 and 1957 was given in the articles entitled Statistics of Numbers and Expenditure of Visitors to Ireland and Irish Visitors Abroad", which appeared in the June, 1957, and June, 1958, issues of the Irish Trade Journal and Statistical Bulletin and in the articles entitled “Hotels and Guest Houses: Receipts, Guest Registrations and Bed-nights” in the March, 1957, and March, 1958, issues of the same journal to which I would refer the Deputy. It is not possible to give the country of normal residence of tourists as distinct from other visitors but I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to circulate in the Official Report a statement which includes the available data.
This information is compiled only on an annual basis and the corresponding figures for 1958 will not be available for some time.
Following is the statement:—
ESTIMATED numbers of visits to this country of persons resident outside the State, 1956 and 1957.
|
Category |
1956 |
1957 |
|
Thousands |
||
|
Persons travelling from Britain on the Six Counties whose permanent residence was: |
||
|
Six Counties |
2,663 |
2,474 |
|
Britain† |
852 |
614 |
|
Other countries (including country not stated) |
358 |
293 |
|
TOTAL |
3,873 |
3,381 |
|
Persons travelling direct from countries other than Britain or the Six Counties |
31 |
34 |
|
GRAND TOTAL |
3,904 |
3,415 |
VISITORS to this country who travelled by sea direct from countries other than Britain or the Six Counties 1956 and 1957 (included in the table above).
|
Permanent residence |
1956 |
1957 |
|
Number |
||
|
U.S.A. |
9,420 |
8,862 |
|
Other countries (including country not stated) |
534 |
582 |
|
TOTAL |
9,954 |
9,444 |
†The sharp decline shown between 1956 and 1957 was due entirely to a fall in the estimate of the number of visits of persons from Britain who crossed the Border by private motor vehicles. A new method of estimation was adopted in 1957 so that the estimate for 1957 is not comparable with those for earlier years. It is believed that the estimates for years prior to 1957 are somewhat too high and that the number of visits by private motor vehicles of Six County residents are correspondingly too low.