CSO predicts record year for tourism
Almost 1.5 million trips were made to Ireland in the first three months of the year, new figures revealed today.
Data from the Central Statistics Office found a similar number of Irish holidaymakers travelled out of the country during the same period.
The numbers look set to challenge last year, which was a record year for Irish tourism both in terms of the numbers of overseas visitors and revenue generated by them.
"It is going to be a challenge to continue this upward curve but the figures for the first three months of the year show that we are on track to do so," said John O'Donoghue, outgoing Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism.
"While it is obviously early days, I am confident that the necessary measures are in place to ensure that 2007 is another record year for Irish tourism.
"The figures show that the number of overseas visitors to Ireland for the first quarter of 2007 has increased by 6.4% on the corresponding period last year."
The CSO recorded 1.47m trips to Ireland and 1.57m out of the country.
In March alone there were 586,700 overseas excursions made, compared with 488,900 the year before.
Meanwhile, 576,800 visits were made to the country during the same period - an increase of 54,100 on last year.
Incoming holidaymakers and business trips included 289,300 from Great Britain, 197,000 from other European countries, 71,000 north Americans and 19,500 from other areas.
With trips from visitors in Great Britain dropping, tourism chiefs are currently spending €6m on their biggest ever marketing campaign in the UK to highlight the attractions that Ireland offers at a regional level.
This campaign, which began last month, is set to deliver strong returns in the months ahead, said the minister.
Meanwhile the number of visitors from North America is up by over 4%, despite concerns expressed by the industry relating to the relative weakness of the US dollar.
"While there is some softness in the British market, visitor numbers from Mainland Europe grew powerfully with an increase of 33%," added Mr O'Donoghue.
"Other long-haul destinations were up by 14% for the first three months."
