Irish heritage sites are worth about €700 million as tourist attractions, a study released today has found.
Research for the Heritage Council found that major historical sites and ancient monuments are worth about a total of €1.5 billion in total to the economy.
They are also sustaining tens of thousands of jobs, the report found.
Heritage Council chief executive Michael Starrett has today urged the Government to look at the value of maintaining important structures, archaeological finds and natural landscapes.
“All the evidence demonstrates that investment in heritage is inherently sustainable, long term and provides a successful solution to economic recession,” he said.
The report for the Heritage Council by economic consultants Ecorys and Fitzpatrick Associates found that heritage directly supports 25,000 jobs and indirectly 40,000. It is estimated that, out of these, 17,000 construction jobs are sustained by work on heritage sites.
It compared Ireland with Scotland and Wales where heritage is estimated to be worth €2.7 billion and €930m respectively to the economies.
The study, Economic Value of Ireland’s Historic Environment, examined the extent and value of heritage. It looked at two World Heritage Sites Bru na Boinne in Co Meath and Skellig Michael off Co Kerry, more than 20 historic buildings, 38,000 protected structures and more than 120,000 structures protected under the National Monuments Act.
Shaun Quinn, Failte Ireland chief executive said that visitors who are interested in heritage and culture "tend to stay longer, visit more places, and spend more per day than tourists in general.”
PA