Vol. 500 No. 1
387 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the likely biggest economic contributor category of tourist to Ireland in 1999; the estimated spend per head; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3510/99]
I am informed by Bord Fáilte that in 1997, the latest year for which final expenditure data is available, tourists from Britain, Ireland's biggest single market, spent £683 million in the Irish economy which at 43 per cent is close to half of the total overseas tourist spend. However, in terms of per capita spend, the American tourist, spending an average of £448 per head while holidaying in Ireland was the biggest spender in 1997. Bórd Fáilte are forecasting growth of 11 per cent for the British market and 9 per cent for the US market this year.
