U s e f u l I n f o r m a t i o n o n o u r I n d u s t r y

Tourism Facts and Figures

• Overseas visitors increased by 7% to almost six million people.
• North American visits increased by 12% to just under one million visitors. This makes it the strongest performing overseas market.
• Irish tourism generated foreign exchange earnings of £2.5 billion, an increase of 8%.
• Tourism provides 135,000 jobs for the Irish economy.
• British visitors reached a level of 3.4 million during 1999. This shows an increase of 7%.
• The main generators of growth from Mainland Europe were from Italy and the Nordic Countries. As a whole Mainland Europe visitors were up by 3% to almost 1.3 million.

• The number of German visitors remained unchanged from 1998 levels.
• French visitors dropped by almost 3%, however holiday visitors increased by 5% in this market.

• While short domestic breaks declined, long domestic holidays of four or more nights increased by 10%. Overall figures show a decline in domestic holidays of 5%. Despite this figure expenditure grew by 1%. During 1999 high profile events were held in Ireland, including the MTV Europe Awards, and Murphy's Irish Open, Smurfit European Open, Donegal Ladies Irish Open, AIB Irish Seniors Open, Junior Ryder Cup, and the West of Ireland PGA Challenge Tournament.
  

Outlook for 2000

• In the UK there is uncertainty about consumers intentions regarding spending and holiday plans. However economic indicators are positive and Ireland is likely to share any growth.
• As consumer confidence grows in France with an improvement in the economic climate. It is forecasted that the French market will grow by 3%.
• Italy will continue to be a growing visitor generator to Ireland. The situation of the German economy being the slowest growing in the EMU zone is expected to change in 2000. Prospects for this market are optimistic and visitor numbers are expected to grow by 4%.
• The strength of the US dollar against the Euro is likely to continue. In Canada, the economy is forecasted to improve but the Canadian dollar will be likely to remain at a low level against the Euro. Overall North American visitors are hoped to grow by 8%.
• With an increase of 26% in 1999, the Nordic Countries will continue to grow. It is hoped that the access routes will improve.

• Extra capacity on routes from the Netherlands will mean that Dutch visitors can choose direct flights to destinations including Dublin, Cork, Shannon and Knock. This is hoped to aid in increasing visitors from the Netherlands by 4%.
• The outlook for long haul markets seem positive as discounts on Australia to Europe airfares seem likely to continue into the first half of 2000.

• Total employment in the Hotel & Guesthouse Sector has increased by 36% since 1996, figures now show that a total of 57,021 people are employed in this sector.
• Of this figures 45,765 (80%) are permanent employees, 7481 (13%) are seasonal and 3775 (7%) are occasional.