The CSO released figures today (3/2/10) which confirm that Irish people reduced their spend on travel related purchases during the third quarter of 2009. While the number of overall trips taken at home fell by just 1.3% compared to the same period in 2008, associated spending fell by 15.5%. This is the lowest third quarter expenditure since 2005. Holiday spending was down by over 20%. The number of trips taken abroad were down 9.7% in the same period while holiday trips abroad were down 17.7%. Spending on trips abroad fell by over 20% while spending on holidays abroad fell by 30%. Not surprisingly, there was in increase in the numbers using private motor vehicles (47%) and sea/cruise options (29.8%) at the expense of the airline carriers (-15.3%)
So, even though fewer people took holidays abroad during the peak tourist season last year, they did not substitute this with a holiday at home, as was suggested last year. Given the critical importance of the domestic market for Irish tourism, these figures provide no reassurance for 2010.
No comments:
Post a Comment