FIGURES FOR 2009 would show the number of visitors to Ireland fell by 13 per cent last year, with a decline of 16 per cent from Britain, the island’s most important market, an Oireachtas committee was told yesterday. Niall Gibbons, chief executive of Tourism Ireland, was addressing the Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, and Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.
“Our most recent forecast for 2009 indicates that visitor numbers to the island will have fallen by 13 per cent. Our most important market, Great Britain, is forecast to fall by 16 per cent,” said Mr Gibbons .
“In addition, we have also seen declines of 6 per cent from North America and 10 per cent from mainland Europe.”
Senator Paschal Mooney called for an end to the “national begrudgery” fuelled by the media against Government figures travelling abroad to promote Ireland over the St Patrick’s Day period.
Sectors of the media that criticised Government figures travelling to St Patrick’s Day celebrations abroad were “playing to the populous mob”.
Chair of the committee, Tom Kitt, TD, said the €10 departure tax was a disincentive to people visiting Ireland. “People are very price conscious now.”
