Tourism Recovery Delayed
The ITIC Year-End Review 2010 and Outlook 2011 published today estimates that overseas visitor numbers declined by a further 16% this year to 5.5 million.
Associated revenue is estimated to have dropped by about €600 million to €3.25 billion. That’s over one third down on 2007 revenue of €4.9 billion.
Domestic trips showed remarkable resiliance with only a marginal drop in visits, and an estimated 10% drop in revenue to €1.25 billion.
Total tourism revenue in 2010 was €4.5 billion, representing a major industry supporting up to 200,000 jobs.
Despite the cataclysmic fall from the dizzy heights of 2007 there is reason to be optimistic, according to ITIC Chairman Tom Haughey. He believes the worst is now over and that rebuilding the sector starts in 2011.
To access the full ITIC Year-End Review 2010 & Outlook 2011 CLICK HERE(PDF format).
To access the accompanying Press Release CLICK HERE (PDF format).
If you would like to comment on anything you’ve read here, leave a comment below!
December 29th 2010
December 30th, 2010 at 2:34 pm
It is very disturbing that the CSO have reduced the standard of reporting of visitors numbers. Now only produced on a quarterly basis which makes it history rather than a real up to date report. Secondly the only categories of country of origin now reported are a) British and b) all others.
This is no way to track the sales of a €4.5 billion industry. How can the various tourist organisations devise and monitor sound marketing strategies if such absolute basic information is not reported.
We, in the industry, should not accept this ludicrous situation. It is folly.
January 12th, 2011 at 1:50 pm
Agree with previous sentiments. Knowledge is power and what the CSO has done only reduces knowledge.
Is it cut backs I wonder? Because it would be typical of the state sector to sacrifice useful front end stuff like regular statistics instead of dealing with the bureaucratic waste and inefficiencies that everyone knows is still endemic in the state sector despite the current budget deficit and the fact that we’re broke.
On a more positive note, congratulations to Tourism Ireland on the recent plaudits received in China, which if developed properly could become a massive market for Ireland.