One third of tourists think Dublin is too expensive

A survey of visitors to Dublin launched today has shown that over one third of Dublin’s tourists think the city is too expensive.

We've never perceived Dublin as a cheap destination Mr Frank Magee of Dublin Tourism

The survey which questioned 1,000 people between April 1999 and March 2000, and was designed by the Research and Statistics Working Group of the Federation of European City Tourist Offices (FECTO), found that 58.2 per cent of Italian visitors, 45.5 per cent of Germans and 41 per cent of French tourists were unhappy with the cost of visiting Dublin.

Twenty-five per cent of interviewees also cited litter as a problem with the city.

However, 94.8 per cent found Dublin a friendly and hospitable place to visit, while over 85 per cent considered the city to be safe.

The travel and tourism industry provides 10.7 per cent of the global economy and is the world’s largest employer - 225 million people work in the industry throughout the world; 19 million in the EU.

In Dublin, tourism brought in a revenue of £707.5 million during 1999 alone and authors of the survey suggest that tourist concern at high prices is worrying in light of Ireland’s rising inflation.

Mr Frank Magee of Dublin Tourism told ireland.comtoday he didn't believe the Government need address the pricing issue specifically for the sake of the tourist industry.

"We've never perceived Dublin as a cheap destination", he said. The aim of tourism strategists has been to "raise the expenditure of tourists", he said and appeal to those visitors who can afford to spend money here.

Mr Magee, however, did express concern at the onset of the Euro single currency. He said market forces would dictate what happens with prices in Dublin and warned that the tourism market needed to be "aware" of the situation.

"There is no room for complacency", he said.