Tourism boom
Enjoying a recordbreaking boom
Millions of people all over the world dream of coming to Ireland and more people than ever are realising that dream, as the nation’s 2018 tourism figures show.
Last year, more than 10.6 million people made the journey to the Land of Saints, Scholars and the odd sup of Guinness almost 700,000 more than the year before.
Ireland’s status as a world-class destination is beyond question thanks to its natural charms, celebrated culture, incredible range of things to do and, of course, our unique welcome. This exceptional combination is exerting a special appeal for American visitors in particular, 2.4million of whom made the journey across the Atlantic to learn history, savour delicious Irish food and enjoy good old Irish “craic”.
The CEO of Fáilte Ireland (Ireland’s tourism board), Paul Kelly, says Ireland’s highest-ever number of visitors reflects the country’s growing appeal as a destination for all seasons.
“We have been very much focused on driving a more seasonal spread of these growing tourist numbers, which is vital in helping tourism businesses to stay open longer,” he said.
“This strategy, including our season extension programmes in local towns across the country, is paying dividends, which is evidenced in the strong growth
recorded in the final months of the year. Our own industry barometer reflects this growth, with tourism businesses telling us that a strong autumn season boosted their overall annual performance.” In other words, visitors to Ireland are not the kind to be put off by the threat of a little rain.
Other threats loom large in the industry’s mind however, as uncertainty around Brexit may have played a role in the reduced number of visitors coming from Ireland’s neighbour across the
Irish Sea. Visitors from Britain did increase, by just under 1%, but this was a substantially lower rise than from other parts of the world.
For example, the number of visitors from Europe grew by 9.5% for the year, while the number from other parts of the world - other than America and the UK - grew by 6.7%. Concerns over Brexit are a reminder that one should never sit on one’s laurels, and the industry is responding accordingly.
“At Fáilte Ireland, we are significantly ramping up our activities to ensure Irish tourism is both ‘product-ready’ and ‘industry-ready’ ahead of the UK withdrawal from the EU, with a
€5million fund to support the sector as it prepares for Brexit,” said Mr Kelly. “It is crucial now that the industry remains as competitive as possible, despite ongoing cost pressures.
There is no doubt that Brexit poses a significant threat to the ongoing success of our tourism industry and, with the increasing likelihood of a no-deal, as well other unforeseen political and economic developments in the US and Northern Europe, the sector will need to continue to show agility and resilience in the months ahead,” he said.