Some decent numbers on travel to Ireland: http://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/releasespublications/documents/tourismtravel/2013/overseastravelmayjuly2013.pdf
Summary table:
Particularly encouraging are the following data points:
Summary table:
Particularly encouraging are the following data points:
- May-July figures are up 5.24% on same period 2011, and this is in excess of January-July increase of 4.60%. The significance here is that in May-July we had fewer EU Presidency activities in Ireland, thus trips to Ireland during this period are more likely reflective of tourism, rather than of bureaucravel from Brussels.
- North American visits are up solidly +16.5% for May-July 2013 on same period 2011 and +13.4% for January-July 2013 on same period in 2011.
- Trips to Ireland from areas other then EU, Other Europe, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Other Oceania are up in May-July on 2011 and 2012 levels, though they are still slightly down for H1 2013 compared to H1 2013.
I don't see why this is particularly good news from an economic perspective. I'm travelling home from Europe more regularly. I'm coming home once every 7 to 8 weeks. I'm not actually spending an awful lot here. I stay with family. Ryanair make a small amount out of me. DAA make a small amount out of me in airport charges. Apart from that I'm not spending much. I didn't even rent a car last time I was back. A lot of those returning in recent years are like me; migrants.
ReplyDeleteThe numbers of Irish residents flying abroad is about the same as foreign residents flying in. If I and those like me aren't spending much then I'd suspect the Irish residents flying abroad are holidaying(not with family living elsewhere) and there is a net drain to the economy. I don't think Ireland is either a net tourist destination or business destination based on those figures.
BTW. I enjoy the weekend Art posts a lot.