Written answers

Thursday, 19 December 2013

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Tourism Data

Photo of Sandra McLellanSandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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46. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there has been any noticeable increase in visitors from China, India, Brazil, Russia and South East Asia in recent years; the targets he has for these markets; and the strategies that exist to ensure that Ireland increases its penetration of these markets. [54339/13]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Figures published by the Central Statistics Office show that Irish tourism is enjoying a very good year and all of our main overseas markets are showing growth. For the ten month period between January and October, the number of overseas visits to Ireland increased by 7.3% to over 6 million. Visits from North America were up 14.6%; visits from Mainland Europe were up 5.6% while visits from Great Britain were up 5.1% for the ten month period. Due to the relatively small numbers involved, the CSO does not publish individual country breakdowns for other long-haul markets. The Office does provide an overall figure however, and the number of visits from these markets increased by 14.4% compared by the same period in 2012.   

Tourism Ireland is the agency with responsibility for the overseas marketing of the Island of Ireland as a holiday destination. In terms of promoting Ireland in the areas specified, this year's activity includes arranging familiarisation visits for leading travel agents and tour operators from these markets and also cooperative campaigns with airlines and tour operators serving these regions.  The Visa Waiver introduced by Government under the Jobs Initiative has assisted greatly in facilitating more visits from those markets which are visa-required and in encouraging operators from those markets to include Ireland in their itineraries. I launched the agency's 2014 marketing plans earlier this month and I know the agency will continue to work hard to put Ireland on the map in emerging markets.  

With regard to tourism strategies for the medium to longer term, Tourism Ireland  is currently finalising its three year Corporate Plan to cover the 2014 -2017 period which will, inter alia, outline strategies for each of our main overseas tourism markets.  In addition, work on the tourism policy review is now progressing following completion of the first public consultation phase.  One of the issues raised in the public consultation document relates to Ireland's future priority markets/best prospects.

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