Máire Hoctor
Ceist:400 Deputy Máire Hoctor asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the estimated value to the Exchequer of hunting parties coming here every year. [5278/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 2 February 2010
Ceisteanna (315, 316)
Máire Hoctor
Ceist:403 Deputy Máire Hoctor asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the estimated number of hunting-related tourists to visit here during the years 2004 to 2009 broken down by year. [5264/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 400 and 403 together.
The Central Statistics Office publishes monthly reports detailing the number of overseas visitors coming into Ireland as well as more detailed quarterly data on the duration, expenditure and purpose — in terms of business, leisure or visiting friends and relatives — of such visitors.
In addition, the Tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, publish annual reports with their estimates, based on surveys, of the number of overseas visitors that engage in various popular activities while in Ireland, including hiking/walking, golf, fishing, cycling and equestrian activities.
Estimates of the numbers of overseas visitors engaging in, or travelling to engage in, hunting are not available. Hunting is a niche product and measurement of very niche products is not feasible through the surveys conducted at national level by the tourism agencies. Accordingly, I am unable to provide the figures requested.