Tourism Ireland Welcomes +9% Growth In Overseas Visitors For January-May 2014

Figures issued by the CSO today show that overseas visitor numbers to Ireland increased by +9% for the first five months of 2014. Welcoming the figures, Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland, said: “I am really pleased to see continued growth in overseas visitors to Ireland for the five-month period January to May 2014, with an overall increase of +9% – or 228,000 additional visitors. I particularly welcome the strong increase in British visitor numbers of +13% (140,000 additional visitors). 2014 is also set to be another record year for tourism from North America, with growth of +8% (30,000 additional visitors) recorded for the first five months of this year. And it is very encouraging to see growth from other important tourism markets – including Germany, Spain, the Nordic region and our long-haul markets. This reflects the sentiment expressed by our industry partners, including carriers and tour operators overseas, as well as tourism enterprises here at home.

·         Overseas visitor numbers are up +9% for January to May 2014 – or 228,000 additional visitors.

·         Great Britain: the GB market recorded growth of +13% – more than 140,000 extra British visitors.

·         North America: 2014 looks set to be another record year for tourism from North America, with growth of +8% for January to May – an additional 30,000 visitors.

·         Mainland Europe: visitors from Mainland Europe grew by +4% – 37,000 extra arrivals – with the German, Spanish and Nordic markets turning in particularly good performances.

·         Australia and Developing Markets: arrivals from Australia and our other long-haul markets grew by +16%, or 21,500 more visitors, over the same five-month period last year.

Niall Gibbons continued: “We are determined to ensure that tourism growth continues. We are undertaking an extensive programme of promotions around the world throughout 2014, to build on the success of 2013. This year, we are placing a major focus on promoting the Wild Atlantic Way, as well as on major events like Limerick City of Culture and the Croke Park Classic, when the University of Central Florida takes on Penn State in their college football season opener, on 30 August.”