Dáil debates

Tuesday, 27 November 2012

3:50 pm

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason for the fall in visitor numbers from Britain during the three months to the end of September; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52624/12]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The question relates to the fall in visitor numbers from Britain. According to the latest CSO figures for January to September 2012, and despite ongoing economic difficulties across much of Europe and further afield, our visitor numbers from the European and long-haul markets performed well and America has held steady. However, our visitor numbers from Britain continue to be affected by the slow pace of economic recovery and weak consumer confidence in that market, with overall trips from Britain to Ireland falling by approximately 4% in the first nine months of the year.

While British visitors spend less and do not stay as long as other overseas visitors, Britain remains our single most important tourism market and I am determined to restore it to growth. In this regard, I was pleased to welcome last month’s report of the Tourism Recovery Taskforce, TRT, entitled GB Path to Growth, and I understand that its recommendations for restoring growth in visitors from Britain will be reflected in the 2013 plans of our tourism agencies and businesses.

Tourism Ireland has been conducting an extensive promotional programme this year focusing on our main markets, including Britain. Its autumn-winter campaign aims to boost late season travel to Ireland from around the globe, as well as promoting The Gathering Ireland 2013. For next year, The Gathering Ireland 2013 will form the central focus of all tourism campaigns, with the TRT recommendations further informing marketing plans and activity in the British market.

Growth in visitor numbers from Britain is dependent on improved economic conditions and consumer confidence, as well as the efforts of the tourism industry and agencies. Using The Gathering as our centrepiece for 2013, and building on the approach set out by the TRT, I know that Tourism Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and other tourism industry players will work to sell Ireland overseas and to strengthen the competitiveness of our product. I am confident we can grow tourist numbers from Britain and further afield for 2013 and beyond.

Photo of Timmy DooleyTimmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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As the Minister said, the CSO figures which were published last month showed a drop of 9% in visitors from Britain during the July to September period. He is aware that his Minister of State, Deputy Ring, launched an "Escape the Madness" Olympics campaign to target some 8 million Londoners. It would appear Londoners were quite disinterested in that and declined his invitation. The question also arises as to whether it was a sensible campaign in the first place. Is it possible the slogan "Escape the Madness" was considered somewhat insulting to Londoners and to people in that region generally considering they were hosting what is undoubtedly one of the most important sporting events of the year? In light of that, has any review taken place of that campaign and whether the creative aspect was developed in-house, en route to Mayo or through some of the external agencies that are hired in on an ongoing basis? If that is the case, the Minister might come back to us with some information.

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The number of visitors for the first nine months was down 4.3% and the last quarter was particularly bad, which probably related both to the Olympics, which caused people to stay in Britain, and also the bad weather, which caused people to go to warmer destinations. In the same period the number of visits from North America was up 0.6%, the number of visits from long haul markets was up 3.7% and the number of visits from core Europe - the old EU countries - was up 3.8%. We have had growth from everywhere else but that has been pretty much cancelled out by a fall-off in numbers from Britain. Roughly 30% of visitors from Britain visit Ireland in September, October, November and December so I would not yet write off this year as there is still potential for us to recover some of those losses this year.

With regard to the Minister of State, Deputy Ring's work on the Olympics, he was very successful in enticing a number of teams to come and train here, in particular the UK Paralympic swimming team, the South Korean Olympic swimming team, the synchronised swimmers from the United States, the water polo teams and many others. I am not sure if the "Escape the Madness" campaign has been reviewed yet but it would be the normal process for that to be done. While we accept the hoped-for tourism growth did not materialise, the industry has noted that it came at a relatively modest cost and still managed to raise the profile of Ireland within Britain. People may not have travelled during the period of the Olympics, when they decided to stay at home, but perhaps they will come in the autumn and winter of this year instead.

Photo of Michael KittMichael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Sin deireadh na ceisteanna.

Photo of Ray ButlerRay Butler (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I want to say something. I have sat here for an hour and a half and I just want to ask the Minister a question.

Photo of Michael KittMichael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Please, Deputy-----

Photo of Ray ButlerRay Butler (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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I just want to say something to the Minister. We had conspiracy theories on The Gathering. All I wanted to do was to say to the Minister to keep the local authority funding for another couple of weeks, but they come in here with conspiracy theories over the funding of The Gathering, and we sit here for an hour and a half. No wonder it is a joke.

Photo of Timmy DooleyTimmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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There is a man about to go overboard.