HC Deb 18 June 1999 vol 333 cc236-7W
Mr. Ruane

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in rank order by country the number of international overnight visits to Wales in each of the past 10 years. [87458]

Mr. Hain

The readily available information is for the years 1990 to 1997. The figures are estimates compiled by the Wales Tourist Board, based on sample survey results from the International Passenger Survey supplemented with estimates for the Irish Republic.

Top 10 generating countries Number
1990
Total overseas visits to Wales 680,000
1. USA 145,000
2. West Germany 96,000
3. Australia 75,000
4. Canada 51,000
5. Republic of Ireland 50,000
6. France 47,000
7. Netherlands 37,000
8. New Zealand 19,000
9. Italy 16,000
10. Belgium/Luxembourg 14,000
1991
Total overseas visits to Wales 650,000
1. USA 122,000
2. Germany 101,000
3. France 54,000
4. Republic of Ireland 54,000
5. Netherlands 48,000
6. Australia 48,000
7. Canada 33,000
8. Belgium/Luxembourg 22,000
9. Italy 20,000
10. New Zealand 13,000
1992
Total overseas visits to Wales 670,000
1. USA 131,000
2. Germany 103,000
3. France 69,000
4. Republic of Ireland 53,000
5. Australia 47,000
6. Canada 36,000
7. Netherlands 33,000
8. Belgium/Luxembourg 26,000
9. Switzerland 16,000
10. Spain 14,000
Top 10 generating countries Number
1993
Total overseas visits to Wales 690,000
1. USA 131,000
2. Germany 107,000
3. France 78,000
4. Republic of Ireland 52,000
5. Netherlands 43,000
6. Australia 42,000
7. Canada 36,000
8. Belgium/Luxembourg 24,000
9. Italy 24,000
10. Sweden 17,000
1994
Total overseas visits to Wales 680,000
1. USA 140,000
2. Germany 109,000
3. France 53,000
4. Republic of Ireland 53,000
5. Australia 48,000
6. Canada 40,000
7. Netherlands 35,000
8. South Africa 18,000
9. Belgium/Luxembourg 17,000
10. Italy 17,000
1995
Total overseas visits to Wales 730,000
1. USA 143,000
2. Germany 101,000
3. France 66,000
4. Republic of Ireland 64,000
5. Australia 45,000
6. Netherlands 41,000
7. Canada 36,000
8. Italy 25,000
9. Belgium/Luxembourg 20,000
10. Switzerland 16,000
1996
Total overseas visits to Wales 830,000
1. USA 141,000
2. France 87,000
3. Germany 79,000
4. Australia 67,000
5. Republic of Ireland 66,000
6. Netherlands 61,000
7. Canada 41,000
8. Spain 25,000
9. Italy 22,000
10. New Zealand 14,000
1997
Total overseas visits to Wales 920,000
1. USA 154,000
2. Germany 145,000
3. France 84,000
4. Republic of Ireland 80,000
5. Australia 77,000
6. Netherlands 66,000
7. Canada 45,000
8. Belgium/Luxembourg 27,000
9. Italy 27,000
10. Spain 25,000

Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.