Trips To Ireland Down In June

There was mixed news in this week's latest Tourism numbers from the Central Statistics office, with the number of visitors to Ireland down in June, compared to last year, but the total numbers for the year so far increasing.

The number of trips to Ireland fell by just over 3% to 749,900 in June 2008 compared to the corresponding month in 2007. Trips to Ireland by residents of North America fell by over 10% to 132,400, as did those from Great Britain, falling by 8% to 325,000. These contributed largely to the overall fall in the number of trips to Ireland.

Total Overseas trips by Irish residents in June 2008 amounted to 768,300 which was just marginally more than that of June 2007.

For the first six months of 2008, the number of overseas trips grew by just over 5% to 3,813,300 compared to the same period in 2007. However, the rate of growth was far less than the 14.2% achieved between the same periods in 2006 and 2007.

The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Martin Cullen T.D., chose to concentrate on the first six months of the year and said they showed that Irish tourism was continuing to win business against a challenging international backdrop.

Mr Martin said: "Everyone involved in Irish tourism has acknowledged that our tourist trade is not immune to the challenging economic conditions, in Ireland and overseas - particularly in some of our largest overseas source markets. Nevertheless these figures from the CSO show that over 3.7 million overseas visitors came to Ireland in the first half of the year - representing an increase of over 2.6% on the first six months of 2007."

The Minister added: "The North American numbers must be seen in the context of a record year for Irish tourism last year, consumer sentiment in the US, fuel costs and the dollar-euro exchange rate."

"I realise that these are half-year figures only and indications are that tourism business, particularly in some areas, may have been less strong in July and August. From the consumer's perspective however, this means that there is exceptional value to be had in holidaying in Ireland this year as a result," he continued.

"Tourism Ireland's intensive international marketing strategy is focused, and is delivering value for money. Its marketing campaigns have been developed in association with the industry here and overseas, and highlight our diverse range of attractions, ease of access into the country and the good value fares and offers available."

"I will soon be announcing details of a mid term review of our overall Tourism Development Strategy to ensure, in cooperation with the industry, that the policy framework continues to support the long-term development of Irish tourism, as it has to date.

"The importance of the tourism sector to Ireland is clear, generating as it does domestic and overseas consumer spending of €6.5 billion and supporting the employment of a quarter of a million people in the tourism and hospitality sector alone," the Minister concluded.