Tourism Facts 2005
Tourism Performance in 2005
Expenditure by visitors to Ireland (including receipts paid to Irish
carriers by foreign visitors) was estimated to be worth €4.3 billion in
2005.
Total Foreign Exchange Earnings 1993-2005 (€m)
4,272
4,068
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
4,057
3,989
3,935
3,637
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
In 2005 the value of exported goods and services was estimated at
€127.2 billion1 of which €4.3 billion can be directly attributed to
tourism, accounting for 3.4% of exports. Tourism goods have low
import content in comparison to other exports.
Total foreign and domestic tourism revenue of €5.4 billion in 2005
generated an overall GNP impact of €5.09 billion after applying
multiplier effects (direct, indirect, induced and “Government
interacting”). As a result total tourism revenue accounted for
3.8% of GNP.1
3,115
2,896
2,675
2,399
2,132
1,902
1,736
1994
1993
Government earned estimated revenue of €2.5 billion through
taxation of tourism expenditure, of which €2.1 billion came from
foreign tourism. It is estimated that for every Euro spent by out-ofstate tourists, 52c eventually ends up with the government
(through VAT, excise duty, PAYE, etc).
5000
Overseas tourist visits to Ireland in 2005 increased by 6% to 6.8
million. Tourist numbers from Britain increased by 3%, Mainland
Europe recorded substantial growth of 20%, driven by Germany and
Other Europe. However, the volume of North American tourists fell by
2% and remains well below the record level of 958,000 achieved in
2000. Visitors from the other long haul markets fell by 11%, following
a strong increase in 2004. Poland has been included in overseas
markets for the first time and according to estimates is now the sixth
largest market in Mainland Europe with 125,000 visitors in 2005.
Because tourism is characterised by the fact that consumption takes
place where the service is available and tourism activity is particularly
concentrated in areas which lack an intensive industry base, it is
credited with having a significant regional distributive effect.
Employment2
The estimated total number of people employed in the Irish tourism
and hospitality industry in 2005 was 245,959, little changed on the
numbers employed in 2004.
Numbers Employed by Sector, 2001-2005
Sector/Year
2001
2002
Hotels
Guesthouses
Self-Catering Accommodation
Restaurant
Non-Licensed Restaurant
Licensed Premises
Tourism Services & Attractions
With the number of overseas tourists to Ireland increasing by 6%
overall in 2005, this is on a par with the World Tourism Organisation’s
preliminary estimates for 2005 which show an increase of 5.5% in
world arrivals, and it is a stronger performance than the 4% growth in
European arrivals.
TOTAL
54,275
2,943
3,830
41,827
13,849
78,225
34,568
2003
2004
2005
54,164
2,879
3,878
41,085
15,642
79,319
34,749
53,637
2,849
3,813
41,367
15,407
92,000
35,016
54,095
2,918
3,641
43,309
16,589
88,986
36,421
n/a 231,716 244,089
245,959
54,656
2,914
n/a
41,409
n/a
80,121
34,852
229,517
Note: Licensed Premises Revised in 2004
Economic Benefits
In 2005, out-of-state tourist expenditure, including spending by
visitors from Northern Ireland, amounted to €3.7 billion. With a
further expenditure of €0.6 billion by overseas visitors on fares to Irish
carriers, total foreign exchange earnings were €4.3 billion. Domestic
tourism expenditure amounted to €1.16 billion making tourism in
total a €5.4 billion industry in 2005.
page 1
In 2005, Dublin accounted for 21% of tourism employment, the
remainder of the Southern and Eastern Region accounted for 49% and
the Border, Midland and Western Region accounted for 30%.
Of the 246,000 people employed in tourism-related services almost
200,000 were year-round employees, and of these 73% were Irish
nationals and 27% were of international origin.
1
Source: CSO Quarterly Survey.
2
Fáilte Ireland’s Tourism Business and Employment Survey.
Tourism Facts 2005
Tourism Numbers 2001-2005
Where did Ireland's tourists come from?
Numbers (000s)
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Britain
Mainland Europe
Germany
France
Italy
Netherlands
Belgium
Sweden/Denmark
Spain
Poland
Switzerland
Other Europe
North America
USA
Canada
Rest of World
Australia
New Zealand
Japan
Other Asia
Africa
Other Overseas
3,340
1,336
285
280
157
182
75
81
100
11
38
127
903
829
74
261
111
26
22
58
32
12
3,452
1,378
288
298
157
162
96
67
113
13
42
141
844
759
85
245
96
19
22
64
29
16
3,553
1,484
302
321
176
146
85
78
133
17
51
174
892
809
84
249
92
20
22
62
32
21
3,526
1,582
298
297
186
151
92
72
157
39
65
224
956
867
89
319
125
24
31
79
42
19
3,640
1,903
402
310
190
157
84
98
171
125
54
312
937
854
83
284
111
26
19
71
39
19
Total Overseas
5,840
5,919
6,178
6,384
6,763
Northern Ireland
Out-of-State
Domestic Trips
513
6,353
6,307
557
6,476
6,452
586
6,764
6,657
5691
6,953
7,001
570
7,333
7,173
Where did tourists go and how much did they spend in 2005?
Source surveys are designed to measure area of residence groupings (bold figures). Other figures are indicative of
approximate overall market size but do not provide a sufficient level of precision to accurately reflect absolute market
size or trends over time.
Regional Numbers (000s) and Revenue (€m)
Numbers (000s)
Revenue (€ m)
Overseas
Tourists
N.
Ireland
Domestic
Total
3,937
1,281.8
178
55.7
1,054
168.1
5,169
1,505.6
Midlands/East
843
295.0
35
8.4
900
112.7
1,778
416.1
South-East
943
252.3
9
2.8
1,099
180.6
2,051
435.7
South-West
1,717
733.3
46
19.0
1,525
275.6
3,288
1,027.9
Shannon
1,002
293.3
31
11.5
713
102.0
1,746
406.8
West
1,235
441.1
60
27.1
1,232
230.1
2,527
698.3
North-West
489
190.1
211
54.2
650
95.4
1,350
339.7
3,486.8
178.8
1,164.5
4,830.2
Dublin
Total Revenue
Note: Due to the change in composition of the Shannon and South West Regions in 2005 - North Kerry, formerly
part of the Shannon region, was absorbed by the South West Region - it is inappropriate to compare previous years’
data for these regions
Overseas Tourists 2005
How did overseas tourists spend their money in Ireland?
Notes: Annual estimates for smaller markets are subject to lower levels of statistical confidence.
1
Revised.
Source: CSO/Fáilte Ireland/NITB.
Breakdown of spend in Ireland (%)
Total
Britain
M.Europe
N.America
Rest of World
Tourism Revenue 2001-2005
Bed & Board
29
Other Food & Drink
35
Sightseeing/Entertainment 5
Internal Transport
9
Shopping
18
Miscellaneous
4
27
40
4
9
16
3
32
34
5
9
17
4
29
30
6
10
20
4
29
31
5
8
20
8
How much money did they spend?
Revenue (€m)
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Britain
Mainland Europe
Germany
France
Italy
Netherlands
Other Europe
North America
Other Overseas
1,210.6
814.6
197.2
161.8
111.8
78.8
265.0
717.5
209.0
1,283.3
866.6
181.5
185.3
110.7
85.4
303.7
709.0
228.7
1,319.1
885.1
184.3
147.1
120.9
78.1
354.7
787.2
236.4
1,276.1
930.4
177.4
158.3
119.0
69.4
406.3
772.1
256.3
1,274.2
1,238.6
237.6
176.4
124.0
80.1
620.5
738.2
235.9
Total Overseas
2,951.7
3,087.5
3,227.7
3,234.9
3,486.9
142.8
161.2
175.5
3,094.5
3,248.7
3,403.2
3,409.0
3,665.7
Overseas Same-day Visits
20.5
Carrier Receipts
820.0
TOTAL FOREIGN
EXCHANGE EARNINGS 3,935.0
17.3
723.0
20.8
633.0
22.0
628.0
23.3
583.0
Northern Ireland1
Total Out-of-State
Domestic Trips
Total Tourism Revenue
174.1 2
178.8
3,989.0
4,057.0
4,059.0
4,272.0
879.9
849.4
970.9
1,037.2
1,164.5
4,814.9
4,838.4
5,027.9
5,096.2
5,436.5
When did they arrive?
(%)
January-March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October-December
Total
Britain
18
8
9
10
12
12
9
22
20
8
8
9
10
12
9
23
M.Europe N.America Rest of World
16
8
9
11
14
12
8
22
15
6
10
13
14
12
11
19
15
6
9
12
12
13
11
22
Source: CSO.
Source surveys are designed to measure area of residence groupings (bold figures). Other figures are indicative of
approximate overall market performance but do not provide a sufficient level of precision to accurately reflect
absolute spend or trends over time.
Note: 1 Northern Ireland revenue includes expenditure on same-day visits by Northern Ireland residents.
2
Revised.
Source: CSO/Fáilte Ireland/NITB.
page 2
Tourism Facts 2005
How did they arrive/depart?
(%)
Total
Britain
49
24
9
72
1
1
Air
From Britain
From M. Europe
Transatlantic
Sea
From Britain
From M. Europe
Via N. Ireland
M.Europe N.America Rest of World
15
74
*
27
9
59
64
25
2
15
1
23
-
6
3
3
*
8
*
2
3
1
2
2
Source: CSO (*indicates less than 0.5 percent)
Where did they stay? (Distribution of Bednights)
(%)
Hotels
Guesthouses/B&Bs
Rented
Caravan & Camping
Hostels
Friends/Relatives
Other
Nights (Mn)
Overseas Holidaymakers 2005
Holidaymakers in this section are defined as visitors who stated that their primary
purpose for visiting Ireland was a holiday.
What was the number of holidaymakers in 2005?
(000s)
Total
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
3,320
3,140
3,216
3,291
3,367
3,365
Britain
M.Europe
N.America
Rest of World
21
13
20
2
3
32
9
50.7
24
10
14
2
1
44
6
17.5
15
14
27
3
4
24
13
20.6
34
17
15
*
3
25
6
8.8
13
12
18
1
5
42
10
3.8
(%)
Package*
Independent
151
148
130
124
167
139
Total
Britain
M.Europe
N.America
Rest of World
50
31
13
6
46
37
12
6
50
24
17
9
66
23
7
4
49
35
12
5
Britain
M.Europe
N.America
Rest of World
21
79
15
85
22
78
32
68
18
82
Total
Britain
M.Europe
N.America
Rest of World
55
39
6
38
50
11
65
33
2
68
30
1
74
20
6
Total
Britain
M.Europe
N.America
Rest of World
13
28
59
21
16
63
11
31
58
1
44
55
8
32
60
Did they use a car?
(%)
Car Brought
Car Hired
Car Not Used
Source: CSO and NITB.
Total
Was this their first trip to Ireland?
What was their main reason for visiting Ireland?
What were the characteristics of holidaymakers to Ireland (%)?
What activities did they engage in? (000s)
Age
Under 25 yrs
25-34 yrs
35-44 yrs
45+ yrs
27
98
Golf
722
626
579
616
656
614
* Prepaid an inclusive price for fares to/from Ireland and at least one other element of the holiday.
First Visit
Repeat
Irish-Born
Equestrian
803
743
757
772
825
950
How did they arrange their holiday?
(%)
Holiday
Visit Friends/Relatives
Business
Other
1,644
1,623
1,751
1,779
1,718
1,662
Source: CSO and NITB.
Total
Source: CSO (*indicates less than 0.5 percent)
(%)
Britain M’land Europe N.America Rest of World
Social Class
22
19
19
41
Managerial/Professional (AB)
White Collar (C1)
Skilled Worker (C2)
Unskilled Worker (DE)
Party Composition
20
60
16
4
Alone
Couple
Family
Other Adult Group
23
44
16
16
43
Cycling
The Tourism Product: Accommodation in 2005 *
Angling
56
Hiking/
Hillwalking
280
0
100
200
300
Hotels
Guesthouses
Farmhouses and Town & Country Homes**
Self-Catering***
University Accommodation
Hostels****
Premises
Rooms
854
448
3,161
3,000
13
167
45,773
5,115
13,275
7,841
2,568
4,734
* Source Gulliver (April 2005).
** Includes specialist and pub accommodation.
*** Registered group scheme only.
**** Two hostel beds constitute one room.
page 3
Tourism Facts 2005
All estimates are based on information from the CSO's Country of
Residence Survey, Passenger Card Inquiry and Household Travel
Survey. Fáilte Ireland's Survey of Overseas Travellers (SOT) and the
Northern Ireland Passenger Survey (NIPS).
Issued By:
Research & Information
Fáilte Ireland
Baggot Street Bridge
Dublin 2.
Tel: 01 602 4193 Fax: 01 602 4374
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.failteireland.ie
June 2006
For more information on the extensive range of research and
advisory publications available, please ring 01 602 4193
Tourism Ireland is responsible for marketing the island of Ireland
overseas. Information on Tourism Ireland’s marketing activities and
the performance of overseas tourism to the island of Ireland is
available on www.tourismireland.com/corporate/