Written answers

Thursday, 26 June 2014

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Tourism Industry

Photo of Eoghan MurphyEoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

15. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the performance of the tourism sector here to date in 2014, in comparison to the previous two years and projecting forward for the rest of the year, including the increased numbers in employment. [27315/14]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The most recent CSO figures for overseas visits to Ireland show that visitor numbers grew by 7.5% in the period from February to April 2014 when compared to the corresponding period of 2013. 2014 looks set to be the fourth year of consecutive growth in overseas visitor numbers according to these figures. Since the Government came to office, the total number of international visitors coming to Ireland per annum has increased by more than a million and is likely to exceed 7 million this year.

The recently published CSO Tourism & Travel release provides a breakdown of the purpose of visits, as well as expenditure and choice of accommodation for the first quarter.  The number of trips to Ireland in the key target market of holidaymakers rose by 7.5% in the first quarter of 2014, when compared with the same period in 2013. Although spending by overseas visitors remained more or less flat when compared to 2013, this may reflect the fact that Easter fell in the second quarter of 2014 and the first quarter of 2013. In overall terms overseas revenue has increased from under €3.7 billion in 2011 to over €4.1 billion in 2013 - an increase of over 12 per cent.

The buoyancy in the sector is also being reflected in employment numbers. By the end of last year, it was estimated by the CSO that 137,000 people were employed in the accommodation and food service sectors alone. This represented an increase of almost 14% or 17,300 extra jobs since 2012.  Fáilte Ireland estimates that total tourism employment is approximately 200,000 and could grow by 6-8,000 this year on current trends.

The most recent CSO Quarterly National Household Survey reported that seasonally adjusted employment in the accommodation and food sector increased by 14,000 from the first quarter of 2014 when compared to the equivalent period in 2013.  That is an increase of 11% in the year to Quarter 1 2014.  It is also equal to the highest ever employment figure for the sector in the first quarter, which was recorded in Q1 2007.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.