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The state of tourism depends on how you look at it
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It is funny how Parties like to put stats across. From Fine Gael “4,100 fall in US trips to Ireland should sound alarm bells - Mitchell”.
Now this figure is actually true there has been a fall of 4,100 to Ireland from the US. The strength of the Euro vs the Dollar being a factor is not mentioned, neither is the fact that there was an increase of about 28,000 from Europe and about 9,000 from the UK.
Overall there has been an increase of 38,000 in trips to Ireland. Now they do mention these increases but not in the same way as they do with the reduction in US visits they do not deal in real numbers but precentages, (the drop in US visits is 3% by the way).
“The statistics also show that figures for August in previous years showed an increase in overall trips to Ireland of 6.8% in 2005, reducing to 5.6% in 2006 and falling to 3.6% this year. Similarly the overall trips to Ireland in the year to date showed an increase of 10.8% in 2006 but the increase has dropped back to 4.1% in 2007. Of course, these figures relate to the number of trips only and there are significant concerns within the industry about declining length of stay and average spend as well as the regional imbalance in visitor spread.
See when you put it like that it is not as dramatic as the highlighting the increase of 38,000 compared to the US decrease of 4,100. Like spinning atrociously of crime figures any stats are open to spinning.
Not only that Simon but when you get into the technical notes at the back of the CSO release, it’s cautioned that the number of a few thousand could well be within the range of the sampling or non-sampling error of the survey that produces these estimates. They’re not based on airline or airport records of who came in and out — it’s an on-site survey at the main entry and exit points.
Just a thought, but a large number of those European visitors are likely to be friends and family of Eastern European residents. While their presence is welcome, they’re unlikely to spend much when compared to the Yanks.
The other problem is that European visitors often arrive for brief city breaks. Unlike the Americans they don’t visit less built up areas. This means that while the economy and Irish tourism in general may be doing better, it is probable that certain regions are suffering as a result of the drop-off. It is also unfortunate that those regions most likely to be suffering are the regions where tourism is a particularly important to the local economy.
There is the world of a difference between a tourist coming to Ireland on a long-haul flight (your general US tourist) and thos who come short-haul (your a European tourist coming via Ryanair). They stay for different lengths of time, they spend hugely different amounts of money, in different places and favour different parts of the country. While it may not mean much to our master of the stats here, it does mean a farr difference to those operating in the tourist sector outside the population hubs and outside the mass-tourist sector.
Overall there has been an increase of 38,000 in trips to Ireland. Now they do mention these increases but not in the same way as they do with the reduction in US visits they do not deal in real numbers but precentages, (the drop in US visits is 3% by the way).
Really, is it not North American visits that the press release refers to?
Tourism is “par excellence” an industry where the 80/20 rule applies… 80% of turnover is generated by 20% of clients. Ryanair makes money by fleecing the 80% of clients who each spend as little as possible.
Ireland did have high spending clients. The Americans aren’t coming any more because of the dollar/euro exchange rate which exacerbates the high cost of tourism in Ireland.
The other high spending out of season clienteles has been scared off. Even the most obsessive golfers find that “Celtic Tiger” green fees are excessive. Game anglers get better value for money elsewhere in countires that have not sacrificed their rivers and fish to the cattle breeders, pig raisers, fish farmers and other irresponsible intensive farmers. And FF’s obsession with maintaing Victorian English access legislation when even the Brits have evolved, has killed off another high revenue earning group. Not to mention the aberrations of the brown envelope dominated planning system that is destroying the country’s basic ressource. How can you develop cultural tourism when the Government is ploughing a motorway through one of Europe’s most history laden landscapes.
As relative newcomers to Ireland when we want to go on a short break we go North. They have a well set up booking system, accomodation is reasonable and they have town and country planning that protects the landscape!
Gordon
John did you read the press release at all? The blockquote was from Fine Gael that highlighted the non-American trips. If you are going to critise me please actually read what your party has said.
Also the 4,100 drop is within the margin of Error of this survey. The survey covers about 2% of trips so to draw anything from a survey under the margin of error is very weak. Indeed it is possible American trips are up this year, Also the biggest reason for the drop would be the Dollar/Euro exchange rate, so unless FG are planning to pull out of the Euro there is not much that can be done on that. Also American tourism is up about 18,000 from 2005 which is greater then the margin of error.
Niall
The highest numbers coming to Ireland from the EU or. UK,Germany,France,Italy,Poland, Spain Which is nearly right based on those countries populations. Also I haven’t seen many yanks around my place but have seen may in Dublin. How many of them actually do go around the country?
I’ve always found that the Americans tend to do a lot of tours, and go to the typical spots, you know, the Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty Castle etc. They’ll visit a lot the regional towns briefly, especially if there’s a castle, an abbey or roundtower etc. Europeans aren’t quite as interested in the blarney factor.
the blarney factor
You mean overpriced tea/coffee and sods of turf sold in cardboard houses?