Visitor figures - Trouble brewing for tourism

In May of this year the number of Irish people taking trips abroad increased by 61,800, or 9.2%, over the same month in 2006, according to figures released by the Central Statistics Office.

In the first five months of this year 15,400 more Irish residents went abroad than the number of visitors to this country. This poses a warning that should be recognised, and steps ought to be taken to rectify the situation.

The number of visitors to Ireland is still going up, but not nearly as fast as the number of Irish people going abroad for holidays. For a country that has prided itself as a tourist destination, this should portend trouble.

Over 600,000 people from Britain visited Ireland during May, which was an increase of 9.2% on the previous May. But at the same time the number of European visitors from outside Britain declined 3,200, in contrast with an increase of almost 50,000 the previous May.

There was also a decline of 100 in the number of American visitors this May, in contrast with an increase of 8,000 or 8.6% in May 2005.

Some 3,900 extra people visited Ireland in May of this year, but 61,800 extra Irish people left the country either on holiday or on business.

In the battle for tourist figures this country is losing more than it is gaining.

Various factors undoubtedly contribute to the decline. The weak dollar undoubtedly had an impact. By contrast, sterling was strong in relation to the Euro, so this should have helped to attract British visitors, who now constitute more than 51% of our foreign market.

Although the number of British visitors went up appreciably in May, there was a decline of 69,000 in the number of British residents visiting this country during the first five months of the year.

The increase in the number of Irish people going abroad on holidays is being largely attributed to our bad summer but the weather in May was a particularly good, with the result that the weather should not have been a factor in those figures.

Home holiday destinations are now blaming the bad weather for the decline in their seasonal business but the high cost of holidaying in this country in also a contributory factor.

Many people find it cheaper to go abroad to the sun, notwithstanding the cost of travel. As a country we are clearly suffering from declining competitiveness.

Those who visit Ireland do not generally come here for the weather, so any decline in the number of foreign tourists must be attributed to other factors.

Irish people are being attracted abroad by comparatively cheap holiday packages, and the virtual assurance of better weather, which is likely to be less stressful for parents.

Anyone who has had a holiday marred by bad weather, with cranky children cooped up in a caravan or holiday cottage, is not likely to have much difficulty understanding why so many Irish people are voting with their feet.

We need to provide more all-weather recreational facilities for families in order to strengthen the home appeal of Irish holiday destinations.