Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Mr Leo Varadkar TD, has welcomed the ongoing increase in visitor numbers so far this year, and predicted annual growth in visitor numbers for the first time in four years.
The latest travel figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) for July to September 2011 show that over 5 million visitors came to Ireland in the first nine months of the year - an increase of 10 per cent on the same period in 2010.
“From an early stage this Government targeted tourism as a key growth area for the economy. That’s why the Jobs Initiative had such a strong tourism element. These latest figures, which cover the period from when the Jobs Initiative took effect, indicate that the measures are helping to sustain the rebound earlier in the year, and we are going to see annual growth in visitor numbers for the first time since 2007,” Minister Varadkar said.
According to the CSO, for the first nine months of 2011, the number of visitors from Great Britain was up by 7.4 per cent. Numbers of visitors from mainland Europe were up by 12.3 per cent, while North American numbers were up by 10.6 per cent. Other long haul routes were up by 15 per cent.
“It’s particularly heartening to see continued strong performance from Great Britain after a number of difficult years. While our British arrivals were up 6.8 per cent in the third quarter, overall UK trips to the EU were marginally down 1 per cent. Britain is still our most important market in terms of visitor numbers, and I am pleased to see that we are regaining market share,” said Mr Varadkar.
Labour TD for Cork South-West, Mr Michael McCarthy, also welcomed the tourism figures from the CSO.
Deputy McCarthy said: “These figures show that positive growth patterns are emerging in most markets within the tourism sector. Visitor trips from mainland Europe, Britain, North America and other long-haul markets are all up, indicating that Ireland is fast regaining a firm foothold in the holiday destination market.”
Mr McCarthy echoed Minister Var
kars enthusiasm: “Most encouraging is the increase in visitors from Great Britain, our main market, making up 44 per cent of all visitors here this year. Given that the most recent figures show the number of outbound UK visitors to all countries was flat year-on-year, the increase in visitor numbers from the UK means that Ireland’s market share is growing.
“This is no coincidence, but the manifestation of a catalogue of Government-led programmes which are aimed at making tourism the engine of Ireland’s economic recovery,” said Mr McCarthy. “This includes various tourism-friendly measures introduced in the Jobs Initiative in May, and the visits of Queen Elizabeth and President Obama this year, which also had a boosting effect.”
The challenge ahead
According to Mr Varadkar: “The challenge now is to maintain this growth. Last week I attended the World Travel Market in London and saw for myself the excellent work being done to promote Ireland as a holiday destination in Britain.
“I will be launching Tourism Ireland’s 2012 Marketing Plans later this month. We must continue to get the message out that there has never been a better time to visit Ireland in terms of the value available and the quality product on offer.”
Minister of State for Tourism Michael Ring said he was heartened to see that the trend for home holidays among Irish people continued during the year. “I think many Irish people who holidayed at home this year will have been surprised and delighted by what they found, in terms of the value and range on offer. I hope they will be persuaded to explore Ireland again in the coming years.”
