Clarity On Leave As Tourism Figures Polarise Opinion

Tourism figures published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) have split opinion, with the Government welcoming the findings, and the opposition claiming they are a "wake-up call".

The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Martin Cullen, said the CSO figures show Irish tourism is continuing to win business "against a challenging international backdrop."

According to the Minister, the figures show that over 3.7 million overseas visitors came to Ireland in the first six months of 2008, an increase of over 2.6% on the same period last year.

However, Fine Gael Tourism Spokeswoman, Olivia Mitchell has described the findings as a "wake-up call", claiming Ireland has 20,000 fewer visitors.

Minister Mitichel said the figures revealed a decrease of 3% in the number of trips to Ireland in June 2008, adding it was a disturbing signal for the sector.

"June, as the beginning of the traditional holiday period, should be showing an increase in the number of visitors.

"This is exactly what has happened in June every year for the last five; the last time there was a drop-off of trips in June was 2002 and that was by less than a third of the decrease shown in today's figures," she said.

In the opening statement of the CSO's overseas travel document, the agency said: "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."

Minister Cullen conceded that Irish tourism was "not immune to the challenging economic conditions" but maintained the figures represented an increase on the previous year.

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."

Despite the Government Minister's interpretation, the Fine Gael TD refused to agree, she said: "The Tourism Minister must not mask the figures. The danger is that attempting to obscure the underlying trend will mean that necessary, corrective action is not taken."

Earlier this month, a survey carried out by consultants ASM Horwath found that an increase in bed occupancy rates in Northern Ireland had been fuelled by overseas holidaymakers, short-break and business tourists.

The report related that hotels in Northern Ireland were now outperforming all regions in the Republic in financial terms.

See: NI Hotels Booming - In A Different Way

(DW)