The Operational Programme for Tourism 1989-93 set out strategic targets for the development of Irish tourism in relation to foreign exchange earnings, overseas visitor numbers and tourism-related jobs to be created, over the five-year lifetime of the programme. The actual results achieved, as compared with the targets set, at the end of 1993 are set out in the following table.
As regards the period from 1994 onwards, the Operational Programme for Tourism 1994-99 sets out strategic targets for the lifetime of the programme, as opposed to annual targets. Its principal objectives are to achieve a foreign earnings target of £2,250 million per annum and to create an additional 35,000 jobs by 1999. Expectations are that these targets will be fully realised.