A stout performance

Guinness Storehouse tops list of attractions

IT’S there in black and white – the Guinness Storehouse has topped the list of Ireland’s top visitor attractions for the second year running.

The home of the black stuff saw an increase in its visitor numbers of almost six per cent with 1,087,209 people visiting in 2012.

This is an increase of 61,532 visitors on 2011 and it meant the Storehouse stayed clearly in the lead in the top fee-charging attractions.

Next on the list was Dublin Zoo with 1,029,417 visitors, up three per cent on 2011.

Holidaymakers also clearly enjoy living on the edge as the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience attracted 873,988 visitors, up 8 per cent on 2011.

Dominating the free attractions list is the National Gallery of Ireland, recording over 660,000 visitors last year, f ollowed by the National Botanic Gardens at 544,685.

Fáilte Ireland said the opportunity to experience Ireland’s culture and history is a major appeal for overseas holidaymakers, with 91 per cent saying that it is an important factor in their decision to come to Ireland.

Some 94 per cent of tourists said that they were satisfied with their experience of Ireland’s history and culture. According to Fáilte Ireland’s Survey of Overseas Travellers, around 2million overseas tourists go to sites of historical or cultural inter- est every year.

Minister for Tourism, Leo Varadkar said: ‘This list always makes fascinating reading, but it’s also a good reminder of the huge range of visitor attractions that we have in Ireland.

‘People visit this country for many reasons, but they always expect a high standard of things to see and do. As our tourism strategies become ever more focused on different types of visitor, this list is a useful guide of where they are going during their visit.

‘And if you already live in Ireland, the good summer we are all enjoying is a great excuse to get out and see these attractions for yourself.’

Shaun Quinn, CEO of Fáílte Ireland, said: ‘Our visitor attractions are a big part of the tourism offering and with the increase in visitor num- bers to Ireland, it is no surprise that our top attractions have also enjoyed a busy year.

‘I have no doubt that the recent good weather will have encouraged many Irish people to get out and about and discover what is on their doorstep – next year we may be quoting even bigger numbers.

‘Tourism is in a good place compared to five years ago but we can’t become complacent. In order to draw more visitors to our shores we need to ensure we are providing the right type of holiday experiences – particularly f or our overseas markets.

‘Research like this is a valuable help to all of us in the sector as we continue to develop and improve Ireland’s tourism offering.’