Ireland boosted by stong growth from major markets
Ireland is seeing a big rise in the number of visitors from Australia, New Zealand and Oceania this year – up 21.3% in the first quarter compared with the same period in 2012.
Overall, overseas arrivals to Ireland showed growth of 7.4%, the best first quarter performance from North America since 2004, and the best-ever first quarter from Australia and developing markets, including China and India.
The favourable exchange rate for Australian travellers to Ireland has come at a time when many hotels have reduced their rates or are offering added-value additions.
The Gathering Ireland 2013 initiative that kicked off on New Year’s Eve 2012 has created a lot of interest for travel in the first quarter, said Diane Butler, manager Tourism Ireland Australia and New Zealand.
"Many Australians and New Zealanders with Irish heritage or a love of the country have decided to travel to Ireland in 2013 to participate in public or privately organised gatherings," she said.
"Another factor that has undoubtedly played a role in increasing these figures is the direct access into Ireland with Emirates and Etihad. According to many airline partners, volume to Ireland via London or continental Europe has also increased."
Tourism Ireland’s marketing efforts have seen an increased focus on working with the trade "and this has proved beneficial for all our partners, with increased sales to Ireland for 2013", Butler said.
Prospects for 2014 are good with a number of special events in the pipeline, led by the St. Patrick’s Festival, March 14-17 in Dublin.
The Giro d’Italia will stage its ‘Grande Partenza’ – the Big Start in Belfast and Dublin on May 10-12 and the World Flower Show will also take place in Dublin from June 18-22.
Also on the horizon is a new initiative called The Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s first long-distance driving route, stretching from the Inishowen Peninsula in Donegal to Kinsale in County Cork.
Due to be launched in March 2014, the 2,500km west coast route includes 156 strategically placed discovery points for tourists along the way.
Ian Jarrett
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