Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 April 2017
309. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the causes of the drop in tourist numbers coming to Ireland from Britain in the past few months has been identified; his plans to reverse this very recent trend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17265/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraOverall responsibility for publication of tourism statistics lies with the Central Statistics Office (CSO). According to the CSO, the overall number of overseas visits to Ireland increased by 3% year-on-year in the period December 2016 - February 2017. Within this, there was a decrease of 5.9% in the number of overseas visits from Great Britain. It is worth noting, however, that while the December - February 2017 figures for visits from Great Britain were down on the previous year, they were still up 14% on the same period two years earlier.
In common with the rest of Government there has been deep analysis of the challenges which industry and the commercial sectors, including the tourism industry, face because of the outcome of the UK Referendum. While it is too early to be definitive as to why there has been a reduction in visitor numbers from Great Britain, Tourism Ireland has, in the context of Brexit, highlighted the strong likelihood of a reduction in the number of British residents expected to travel abroad on holidays, including a reduction in the number expected to travel to Ireland.
A key element of Tourism Ireland's strategy since 2014 has been market diversification. In 2017, Tourism Ireland will continue to implement its market diversification strategy and intends to maximise holiday revenue through investment in Mainland Europe and North America. In addition the depreciation of sterling against the euro since the UK referendum means that value for money will be a key message for Tourism Ireland in Britain this year. Looking to the medium term, Tourism Ireland's plan for the period from 2017-2019 includes the agency's response to marketing Ireland in a more focussed manner in Great Britain in order to maximise return on marketing spend.
I have forwarded the Deputy's question to Tourism Ireland for any further information they may be able to provide. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
