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A GOLDEN SUMMER for tourism operators has led to the most positive results for the sector since the Celtic Tiger years.
Businesses have reported strong growth in their German and US visitors on the back of successful sales pitches for regions like the west coast’s Wild Atlantic Way.
But not all operators have been sharing in the spoils of the extra visitor dollars with restaurants and some accommodation providers underwhelmed with their 2014 results.
The latest survey from Fáilte Ireland, the national tourism agency, found nearly three quarters of tourism business were feeling good about their prospects – the highest level since before 2007.
Only 8% said business was down, compared to 74% in 2009.
Fáilte Ireland said the tourism recovery was taking hold across the country and responses from businesses in the southwest had been particularly strong.
Across that region 84% said trade was up, while 83% of operators in Dublin reported positive sentiment in the August and September survey.
The southeast was the worst-performed area with only 68% of businesses saying their trade had improved.
Who’s coming and what are they doing?
Tourism operators reported the biggest growth in visitors from Germany and the US, the survey said.
Trade from UK visitors was also making a return but growth in British visitors still lagged the leading countries.
Businesses close to the Wild Atlantic Way hailed its marketing as a big success, particularly in drawing Germans to the region – although those further afield complained they were missing out in all the attention given to the coastal stretch.
Hotels were the biggest winners from the boost in trade with 82% reporting more business in 2014 than the same time last year, however restaurants and self-catering accommodation operators were less buoyant.
Only 50% of restaurants said they had done better this year and 20% said their business had gone down.
Tourism is back
Fáilte Ireland chief executive Shaun Quinn said tourism was back but it had been a “very hard-won recovery”.
“It has taken a mixture of sacrifice and innovation by many operators – as well as far-sighted Government support for the sector – to make Ireland a competitive destination again,” he said.
The danger now for tourism would be to allow complacency to creep back in. To sustain this year’s growth, we need to remain competitive, build on our appeal and continue to aggressively target those segments of our markets with the most potential”.
READ: Tourism Ireland’s clever new ad campaign for Dublin involves getting the shift
READ: Rural Ireland: ‘The life has gone out of it. Even 20 or 30 jobs would give the place a lift’
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The Germans have always loved Ireland. In fact their two favourite countries in Europe in my experience are Ireland and Greece…. Kind of makes you wonder.
They like to check in on their investments.
Met some Germans in Dingle last month, they were really enjoying themselves and loved the trad music pubs.
The Wild Atlantic Way is a bit of a nonsense especially when you come to places like Killybegs in Donegal which could benefit from a good clean up and some paint.
I hear that the Great Western Greenway between Westport and Achill is doing okay and has opened up with cycle hire and cafes along the route.
Germans’ home country is their top holiday destination. Around one-third of the population spends their vacation within the country.
Germans love to travel, and they have plenty of time to do it during the summer. It’s not uncommon for people to take six weeks off at a time.
They paid enough for it, why shouldn’t they come and enjoy their new province?
We handed it over but we continue to pay the mortgage
Spot on Silent.
I don’t ever recall receiving the cheque though.
Slieve league: making the cliffs of moher look like speed bumps for millions of years…
Having worked for the summer in an industry which derives its work from hotels, I can say that the hotel industry was booming for the last few months.
would that be the call girl industry?
Yep, July was’nt too hectic but Aug was and Sept was massively up on last year, in Kerry anyway. Long may it last. Tourism supports so many.
Germans tend to like the countryside and west of Ireland. Only lately has it been marketed more. Most people who visit Ireland spent their entire lives in cities so ventures like the Wild Atlantic way are a great idea. Promote rurul Ireland.
Id imagine the German flights into Knock Airport have also helped increase German tourists.
I was talking to a woman from that way recently and she said it is Irish tourists as much as foreign ones that are making use of the greenway.
“although those further afield complained they were missing out in all the attention given to the coastal stretch.”
I hope to god it isn’t ruined to satisfy the “what about my parish” whiny people. Some areas are more beautiful than others. You have a decent plan to sell the place then great. But you can’t force people to go somewhere.
The Germans are literally costing me extra thousands of Euro a year in protecting the Bondholders and their ilk. I will remind them of this as they ‘enjoy’ my money and scenic Wild Atlantic Way :-/
No you won’t. Nobody would be that obnoxious to visitors. Not even a keyboard warrior.
Ask them about the third secret of Fatima while you are at it.
This seems like too much a good news story?
Great idea to let people find their own way around rather than be herded into the commission paying attractions favoured by the Tour Buses. How long will it last before the big boys take over?
I visit Ireland from the US every other year we love seeing family and friends. We took a tour this summer because we had people with us who had never been before and that is what they wanted. I had been on tour afew years back. This fellow who did our tour this year put the Irish to shame. He play acted the part of an Irish man he was rude, gruff, dumb and all together not a good representative of the Irish people. If Ireland wants to keep tourism we have to stay conscious of who we are. Of course this was just one person, but overall the whole trip seemed to be lacking.
The North west takes some beating and thankfully is the least visited.
have your say