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IT WAS ANOTHER strong summer for Irish tourism, with visitors numbers up 9.7% for the summer months compared to last year.
Figures published today by the CSO also show that 2,180,700 managed to get away for our holliers between June and August, up 1.9%.
Minister for Tourism Paschal Donohoe noted in particular the figures for visitors from North America, up just more than 13% compared to last year which itself was a record year.
However, he warned that Government must not become complacent, and must continue to improve Ireland’s reputation abroad as a tourism destination.
The surge in visitors from all areas (except Poland, Switzerland, and Africa) is something which Fáilte Ireland boss Shaun Quinn believes is being felt on the ground.
“[Our] own research is telling us that this growth is impacting favourably across all sectors of tourism with many experiencing levels of business they haven’t enjoyed for many years,” he said.
This growth has been helped by economic recovery in some of our key markets overseas but crucially, whether it is new initiatives like the Wild Atlantic Way or the variety of festivals and events around the country, Ireland is providing a very attractive offer to the overseas traveller.
Trips by North America travellers to Ireland increased by 18.0% to 516,700 while trips by residents of Great Britain increased by 3.5% to 910,500.
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Report on Irish Archaeology was that museum opening hours and exhibitions are being cut. So the plan is promote Ireland to tourists but close everything. Fairly shortsighted but then again … That’s Ireland Begorah
Ah sure they’re only here for the over priced booze and diddly diddly music
I’ll have a report on your desk first thing Monday morning Pontius
And the over price hotel room will kill irish tourism !!! 3 nights in a cc hotel in dub 561 euro ( 2 star hotel ) same weekend in Berlin 197 euro for 3 nights !!! Doesn’t make any seance 2 me !!!
Airbnb
get a caravan or camper, or even a tent, site fees are much cheaper and more chance to meet people .
That’s a good idea! It’s time to give up the overseas & see the more of Ireland which I haven’t seen like Kerry, Cork & some other counties.
I’m going to be arriving in Ireland in late October for what will be my third visit, and can’t wait, it’s a lovely country with beautiful vistas and very friendly people, also amongst the cheapest places to visit in the EU
You haven’t been to much of the EU if you think its amongst the cheapest
@philipnicholls
We have pretty much destroyed the place Phillip, mass immigration in the towns and cities. bungalows every few yards in the countryside and by next year it will be like a giant pincushion with wind farms and pylons.
Pity about all the one-off housing in our countryside… alot of our most scenic vistas are ruined.
Museum of country life near castlebar is worth a visit, it’s part of the national museum. Also main national museum in kildare st and Collins Baracks.
How many of these visitors were emigrants returning home to visit family and friends
Are they mad over priced food and alcohol hard to get a descent one-for under 100 euro a night then they screw with daily parking another 20 euro ,no Garda presence well they can spot them at 9 am and 6 pm in a local Centra shop after that your own your own .then come to Dublin go junkie spotting as you see drug deals been done ,junkies out of there wheelie bin.another free entertainment to watching the methadone junkie running around robbing stuff waiting for his fix.bring a pair of Spare shoes as you will have fun jumping over chewing gum and urine were the streets are never washed down you could be lucky it could be pissing ran and it will be washed away .
we bought a cheap caravan last year and i did some work to refurbish it, this year we have been away several times just for 2 or 3 days, we have visited co clare , co kerry and co donegal among other places, none of our ‘trips’ has cost us more than60 euro(for the 2 of us and 2 dogs) in site fees and we also have a eurocamp discount card which entitles us to further discounts, we have met lots of really nice people ,had some great evenings just sitting and talking or having a bbq and a few drinks with others on the site’s, founs some wonderfull places to visit, castles, lakes, the wild atlantic way, seen some of the most beautiful scenery anywhere in the world and all without leaving ireland, no passports or queuing up at departure lounges, no cancelled flights, or expensive hotels, just pack a few clothes and things and off we go ! wish we’d gotten a caravan (or camper) a lot sooner in life, it could have saved me a lot of stress related illnesses.
How do i go about booking a flight to the Emerald Isle. Im from Syria and would like to invite you guys over to sample the delights my country has to offer.
There should be a couple of US fighter jets in the sky over your head buddy. Hitch a ride with them. Most of them will be stopping in Shannon anyway.
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