Tourists numbers bounce back

THE numbers of tourists coming to Ireland in the key summer months were up nearly 7%, figures published yesterday show.

Between July and September 2.18 million people visited Ireland, up 6.9% on the number of visitors last year according to figures released by the Central Statistics Office.

They also show that the number of US tourists coming here is increasing again with 324,000 visitors in the quarter, up from 301,000 a year ago, a 7.6% rise.

The British market, which provides more than half of the total figures saw growth, as did the European market.

There has been a major push to attract British and European visitors given the slowdown in the north American market over the past couple of years.

However, while the numbers are good news for the hospitality industry the figures are 2.6% down on the high of 2000 before the economic downturn and the September 11, 2001 US attacks.

And though third-quarter statistics show the average length of stay increased slightly and hotel bed nights increased by 4.7% they decreased in the first half of the year which will hit the profits of many hotels and guesthouses.

The number of Irish people going abroad was up slightly to 1.59 million people. But the value of tourism to Ireland was outstripped by the amount spent by Irish people abroad with a net outflow of €42m over the three months. Expenditure by tourists here was €1.49 billion.

Tourism Ireland chief executive Paul O'Toole welcomed the latest figures, which meant an overall rise of 4.8% in the number of visitors to the country in the first nine months of the year around 80% of the total.

"I am particularly pleased to see the strong growth in numbers from mainland Europe and north America and I am hopeful we will end the year with a strong last quarter.

"The additional marketing funds received this year has enabled us to strengthen our overseas campaigns as well as enabling us to implement the most extensive ever autumn/winter campaign,"

Tourism minister John O'Donoghue said more money would be spent on marketing Ireland abroad next year. He said €31m will be spent with the main tourism bodies Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland next year.

"I am confident 2004 will signal a revival of the fortune of Irish tourism," Mr O'Donoghue said yesterday. The details of the marketing plans for 2004 will be announced tomorrow morning.