Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 October 2017
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Tourism Data
587. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the degree to which various elements of the tourism sector have grown over the past five years; his plans for the future in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42424/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraStatistics published by the Central Statistics Office show that in the five-year period between 2011 and 2016, the number of overseas visits to Ireland increased by 47.3%. This increase can be broken down further as follows:
- 36.3% increase in visits from Great Britain;
- 44.6% increase in visits from Mainland Europe;
- 83.2% increase in visits from North America;
- 54.2% increase in visits from Other areas.
The Government's Tourism Policy Statement, "People, Place and Policy – Growing Tourism to 2025", was launched in March 2015. The main targets contained in the Tourism Policy Statement, to be achieved by 2025, are as follows:
- Overseas tourism revenue to increase to €5 billion net of inflation, compared to €3.5 billion in 2014;
- Overseas visits to Ireland to increase to ten million, compared to 7.6 million in 2014; and
- 250,000 people to be employed in the tourism sector.
