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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 11 Oct 1994

Vol. 445 No. 6

Written Answers. - Tourist Numbers.

Gay Mitchell

Ceist:

67 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the up-to-date performance for 1994 of the British, United States, German and French tourist markets; and if he has satisfied himself that these markets will meet the target set for them in 1994; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [128/94]

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

77 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the tourist numbers expected to visit the country in 1994; the likely locations/regions that are targeted for increased visitors, especially the Dublin region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12/94]

Patrick D. Harte

Ceist:

82 Mr. Harte asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade his views on the drop in the number of German tourists that visited Ireland in 1994; the steps, if any, he proposes to take to restore and increase our share of the German market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [661/94]

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

359 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if there has been an noticeable increase in overseas visitors to Ireland from Great Britain in 1994; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [910/94]

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

361 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if there has been any noticeable increase in overseas visitors to Ireland from the USA and Canada in 1994; his views on whether it is likely that the targets set for visitor numbers will be reached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [913/94]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 67, 77, 82, 359 and 361 together. The information requested by the Deputies is set out in the following tabular statement which I propose to have circulated in the Official Report.

Estimates by the Central Statistics Office of overseas visitors to Ireland for the first six months of 1994 show a 9 per cent increase over the same period in 1993. While official CSO figures are not available for individual continental markets, Bord Fáilte have estimated that the number of German tourists as at June this year may have increased by up to 6 per cent.

Present indications are that Bord Fáilte's original target of 3.5 million tourists for 1994 will be exceeded.
The Government's initiatives for marketing and promoting Ireland as a tourist destination are undoubtedly contributing to improved performance and growth in tourist numbers during 1994.
The House will be already aware, from a reply I gave to Deputy Broughan on 14 April, 1994, that I asked for a special promotional focus to be placed on Dublin in the context of the new extended campaigns within Britain and mainland Europe, which are now in place by Bord Fáilte in co-operation with my Department.
Overseas Visitors to Ireland

Area of Residence

1994(Jan-Jun)

1993 (Jan-Jun)

% Increase

Great Britain

890,000

825,000

7.8

Other Europe

352,000

333,000

5.7

U.S.A. and Canada

178,000

150,000

18.6

Other Areas

58,000

46,000

26

1,478,000

1,354,000

9%

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