New data shines a light onto Waterford city's retail, parking, visitor numbers and more
The Apple Market
Newly published data compiled by the National Transport Authority provides insight into Waterford’s retail and transport.
The data was compiled from 612 interviews which were conducted on Broad Street, the Apple Market and the Quay.
Visitors to the city centre are most likely to be 16-35 years olds (46%), classified as ABC1 social grade (68%) and based in the city (54%).
The surveys found that in Waterford, 57% of people travel into the city’s retail core arrived by bus, rail, walking or cycling.
This is lower than Galway (67%), Cork (64%), Limerick (61%) and Dublin (83%)
40% said they travelled to Waterford city by car.
When asked what their main reason for visiting the city centre was on the day of the interview, 38% of people said shopping, which was the lowest figure of any city in the country (Galway 44%, Dublin 55%, Cork 57%, Limerick 56%)
21% said they visited the city for work or school, 15% said they were going to a restaurant or eating out, and 4% said they were attending an event/cinema/theatre.
The majority of those who came to the city centre in a car parked in the city, they weren’t dropped off.
63% of drivers use multi storey parking. 27% used street parking.
Three in five visitors said on the day of the interview that they plan to spend at least 2 hours in the city centre.
Just under one in ten are doing a quicker visit of up to an hour.
Average intended spend per person is €57.97, which was higher than Galway but lower than Cork, Limerick and Dublin.
Car users contribute over half of the spend in Waterford city centre.
