A drop in the number of direct air routes into Ireland will mean the number of overseas visitors to the country is likely to fall this year the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) Annual Conference in Westport, Co Mayo, heard today.
This evaluation follows the findings of a report commissioned by the IHF, that forecasts a 21 per cent drop this year in the number of airline seats available during peak season on direct US routes to Ireland.
According to Mr John Power, the IHF’s chief executive, preliminary estimates on tourism figures show 5.8 million tourists visited Ireland in 2001, a reduction of 7 per cent on 2000.
The number of North American visitors to Ireland fell 14 per cent to 915,000 visitors.
US visitors to Ireland are the country's highest spending tourists as they stay an average of 10 nights in the country and spend in the region of €750 per visitor. This compares with an overall average visitor stay in Ireland of 7.7 nights and spend of €495.
Mr Power said "Lack of frequent, competitive access particularly to Ireland will be a strong barrier impeding Ireland's tourism success this year. Low cost and ease of access to a destination, are major factors determining where a tourist chooses to visit."
"We suggest Government independently take an active interest in all proposals that could increase access at this time," Mr Power concluded.