Rip-off reply: in just six months 2.5m went abroad
But our high prices don't seem to be deterring foreign visitors, a record number visited here in the first six months of 2004.
The figures, released by the Central Statistics Office yesterday, were published on the same day as the latest Consumer Price Index, which showed the annual inflation rate rose from 2.3% in June to 2.7% in July.
The CSO said the rising inflation was largely caused by an increase in transport costs and price hikes by hotels, restaurants and pubs.
It is the fourth year in a row that growth in trips abroad by Irish people has exceeded the rate of increase in the number of visitors to Ireland. This trend reflects both the continuing strength of our economy and domestic concerns about Ireland's high costs.
Despite a record number of foreign tourists, there is concern within the tourism trade that B&B owners and other small accommodation providers, as well as tourist areas outside the main cities and towns, are not experiencing any of the growth in tourist traffic.
Despite the record figures, Tourism Minister John O'Donoghue advised against complacency. He said the strong overall growth masked problems faced by certain sectors and regions within the industry.
Mr O'Donoghue said 2004 remained "a challenging year" for Irish tourism due to the trend towards shorter, city-based holidays and lower spending by visitors. He also acknowledged that prices remained a vital factor in keeping Ireland as a prime tourist destination.
"Value for money and overall competitiveness continue to be huge issues facing the Irish industry, especially with the advent of new lower-cost destinations in central and eastern Europe," said Mr O'Donoghue.
A total of 2,974,000 visitors arrived in Ireland between January and June this year - a increase of 5.4% on the same period in 2003. The latest tourism figures show a strong growth in the number of visitors from North America - up over 13% on 2003 - as US tourists' reluctance to travel recedes after the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001.
The number of visitors from continental Europe also rose by over 7%.
However, the key British market remained largely static.
The number of visitors from Britain increased by just 0.4% - which may raise concern about the impact of the smoking ban. It emerged comments by foreign visitors to the Department of Tourism about the ban were mostly negative.
The number of visitors from outside Europe and North America grew by almost 50%, with tourists from Australia, Japan and South Africa believed to account for the majority.
2.5 million Irish people went abroad between January and June - up 9%.
2.9 million visitors arrived in the same period - up 5.4%.
Visitors from North America up over 13%.
Visitors from continental Europe up 7%.
