Vol. 500 No. 1
295 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he has satisfied himself that the optimum is being done in terms of investment, advertising and promotion in respect of tourism; his views on whether the industry is competing adequately with other centres worldwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3310/99]
Over the past decade more than £1 billion has been invested in Irish tourism marketing, product development and training under two EU co-funded Operational Programmes for Tourism. This unprecedented level of investment is the result of a unique partnership approach by the industry, the State and the EU.
The results of this investment and the independent activity of our industry is that our tourism growth between 1990 and 1997 was substantially higher than the average achieved by world tourism and, in particular, European tourism. In that period, Ireland returned annual average growth rates of 7 per cent per annum for overseas visitor arrivals and 10 per cent for visitor receipts, compared to annual average increases of 4 per cent and 7 per cent, respectively, for world tourism arrivals and receipts, and 4 per cent and 6 per cent for Europe.
Ireland is rated highly as a tourist destination by overseas visitors. A survey of non-Irish born holidaymakers to Ireland conducted by Bord Fáilte in 1997 found that Ireland rated highly in terms of the quality of the scenery, the friendliness and hospitality of the Irish people, the relaxed pace of life and the natural, unspoilt environment.
