Vol. 470 No. 4
2 Mr. Molloy asked the Taoiseach if it is proposed to effect any changes in the different methodology employed by the Central Statistics Office in the compilation of visitor and tourist statistics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18844/96]
The overseas tourism and travel statistics published by the Central Statistics Office are based primarily on two very large sample surveys of passengers carried out at the major air and sea ports. The surveys cover about 322,000 inward and 374,000 outward passengers on an annual basis and are used in conjunction with total passenger movement figures supplied by the transport companies to provide estimates of all visits and related expenditure by overseas visitors to Ireland and Irish visitors abroad.
A new EU Directive 95/57/EC which was adopted on 23 November 1995 will require the introduction of additional statistical inquiries to measure both the capacity and utilisation of tourism accommodation in Ireland as well as the demand for both domestic and outbound tourism. In this regard, two new surveys are being developed by the Central Statistics Office for introduction in 1997. The methodology of the existing surveys will not be affected by this additional work.
Is a distinction made between visitors and tourists by the Central Statistics Office? Are people who enter and leave the country on the same day included in the visitor figures? In view of the importance of tourism to the economy, will the Minister agree that there is a need for accurate estimates of the number of tourists who visit the country as distinct from visitors who arrive and leave on the same day, and as distinct from people visiting friends and relations, of which this country has an exceptionally high number? The new phenomenon of regional airports means that there are people in the Minister's constituency who reside in Mayo but who travel to work in London on a Sunday night and return on a Thursday or Friday. Is it true that those people are also included in the figures?
The Deputy is embarking on a speech. He has made his point fully and adequately.
The overseas tourism and travel statistics published by the Central Statistics Office are based, first, on the returns from transport companies which give the total passenger movement by route of travel, second on the "country of residence" survey which is used to estimate the distribution by country of residence for each route — this survey covered 185,000 inward and 209,000 outward passengers in 1995 and the "passenger card inquiry" which is used to estimate for various areas of residence, for example, the reason for the journey, the length of stay, expenditure and fare costs. This last survey covered 137,000 inward and 165,000 outward passengers in 1995.
These three sources are then combined to provide quarterly and annual estimates of the number of visits to Ireland by persons who are usually resident overseas and the number of visits abroad by Irish residents. Information is provided on the reason for the journey, the length of stay and related expenditure for both categories. In particular, it should be noted that the respondent selects from a four-way classification for the reason for the journey which distinguishes clearly whether he or she is here for business purposes, as a tourist, to visit relatives or, last but not least, for a variety of other reasons under the heading "miscellaneous".
A visitor must be here for a minimum of 24 hours and less than one year to be categorised as a tourist. In relation to the gross number of people travelling inwards and outwards, a reasonable cross-section is surveyed. I am not here to defend Bord Fáilte, but when the two sets of statistics are compared, there is little difference between them, even though Bord Fáilte uses a different methodology.
My question related to the distinction between visitors and tourists. A person coming home at weekends from a job in London would turn up as 50 visits under the terms of the Central Statistics Office calculations. Such visits are subsequently counted as visits by tourists, giving an inflated estimate of the number of tourists who come here. Given that tourism is such a valuable industry, it is important that we should have accurate figures. Countries outside Europe where tourism is important calculate their tourist numbers on information supplied by incoming and outgoing visitors, no matter what the purpose of their visit.
The survey is carried out on a random cross-sectional basis. Questionnaires are handed out on a random basis to 322,000 inward and 374,000 outward passengers on an annual basis to arrive at a reasonable estimate of inward and outward movements, and the results are reasonably accurate. When these figures and Bord Fáilte's figures are compared, there is very little difference between them.
A new survey will come on stream in 1997 as a result of an EU directive. A sample number of households will be surveyed on a quarterly basis, commencing in January 1997. A questionnaire will be used to conduct a survey of all trips away from home, including all holiday, business and other trips involving stays abroad, and will gather the following information: details of household numbers, the number of participants, particulars of each overnight trip — time, duration etc., country, region, purpose of trip, main type of accommodation used, main mode of transport, organisation of trip, expenses incurred and a survey of accommodation establishments. From the point of view of honing and refining the figures, this will add to the body of information available.
Will the Minister of State agree that the turning point in tourism here was in 1987 when the Fianna Fáil Government gave priority to it? The full report shows that visitor numbers increased by 135 per cent from 1.8 million to 4.2 million while overseas tourists, using the narrower definition in the report, have quadrupled from 640,000 in 1986 to 2.3 million. Will the Minister of State agree that since the ceasefire in the North we have had a 16 per cent growth in the number of tourists and that this has been the result of the successful policies pursued by Fianna Fáil Government?
I am always prepared to acknowledge success, and we are all part of the same success story. For the information of the Deputy let me trace the upward spiral of tourism numbers which are as follows: 1,466,000 in 1991, 1,561,000 in 1992, 1,622,000 in 1993, 1,807,000 in 1994 and 2,314,000 in 1995.
They were booked in 1994.
