Significant increase in visitor numbers over six months

Galway looks set to benefit from an upward surge in tourism – with new figures showing visitor numbers are up by twelve per cent nationally for the first five months of the year.

Head of the Wild Atlantic Way Programme with Fáilte Ireland Fiona Monaghan said while a regional breakdown of the Central Statistics Office (CSO) data had not yet been released, the agency’s “barometer” of feedback from the tourism industry locally showed there was growth of up to ten per cent in business so far this year.

The new chairman of the Galway branch of the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF), Shay Livingstone, said bed nights have increased steadily over the last two years, with visitors choosing to come more often and outside of high season.

For the first time, they are also deciding to book well in advance, a key change for Irish people on a ‘staycation’.

The CSO study found that visitor numbers jumped by 13.4% for three months between March and May and twelve per cent overall for the first five months of the year. That growth was particularly evident in the North American market, with numbers from the US up by 17% between March and May and almost 14 per cent so far this year.

The data is taken from the Country of Residence Survey conducted at Dublin, Cork, Shannon, Knock and Kerry airports and Rosslare, Dun Laoghaire, Ringaskiddy and Dublin ports. It was based on the replies of 110,500 passengers.

The feedback from tourist operators to Fáilte Ireland across Galway reported strong advance bookings.

“Business is definitely growing – up on average seven to ten per cent. On top of that the spend is higher. The strong dollar and sterling is making Ireland a very attractive destination so tourists are spending more across a spread of businesses such as hotels, restaurants, cafes,” explained Fiona.

“While our barometer is based on anecdotal feedback, Galway City is doing well, Connemara is doing well and the islands. For more remote areas, the season is shorter. But the evidence on the ground is that more overseas visitors have come this year and over a good geographical spread.”

The manager of the Connacht Hotel said it had been “an extra good year” to date and confirmed Galway’s position as second only to Cork in tourist hotspots.

“As opposed to overnight, there has been steady growth for the last two years. This year the forward bookings would be ahead of expectations. All around it’s a good story. We are expecting a vibrant summer, a vibrant year.

“I put it down to the Galway factor. Galway knows how to cater for the Irish market as well as international market due to the festivals and the warm welcome,” said Shay, who took over the Galway reins at the IHF in April.

While city hotels are traditionally full for July and August, they are also reporting high occupancy rates in the shoulder seasons, including May and the mid-term school holidays in April.

“For that week of sunshine we had 40 rooms who wanted to stay the following night.  The locals are getting their bookings in order and making them much more in advance compared to previous years. We had two in ten bookings booking earlier than in previous years gone by,” explained the manager who moved from Cork four years ago.

The increase has also reverberated around the county – although lack of broadband continued to be an issue for conference bookings.

“Conferences can’t come and go to Clifden or Connemara because of the lack of wifi, they say they may as well have no fresh air. It’s down to coverage. The Government needs to look at it. But I can speak for the county hotels and say [growth is] definitely reverberating around the county.

“Access is another huge factor. The road has meant a Dublin person who might have stayed two or three times in the past is coming four and five times a year now. It means they can leave work 4pm on a Friday and be sitting at a table in the city centre for 7pm.

“They need to have enough regular flights or coach tours to increase the numbers further.”

The 9% VAT rate has been credited with helping the industry compete with international destinations for visitors.

The upturn in overseas tourism has also been helped by Fáilte Ireland initiatives such as the creation of the Wild Atlantic Way and the recently launched Ancient East trail.