Ireland ready for The Gathering 2013
Ireland is ready to welcome from overseas the 70 million people of Irish descent.
Targetting those who can claim to be "even a little bit Irish", Tourism Ireland is laying out the welcome mat for "choirs, sports teams, conferences, everybody who has a connection with Ireland" for The Gathering 2013.
There will be a particular focus on visitors from the UK, US, Australia and Canada with hopes that the Great Irish Gathering can attract an extra 325,000 visitors.
Irish residents are being urged to invite friends and relatives living overseas.
Jim Paul, Tourism Ireland head of Australia and Developing Markets, said the value of tourism to the Irish economy was critical. Two million tourists had been lost to Ireland in the last two years and hotels were "feeling the pinch", he said.
The Gathering will include community events around the country, and will have a special focus on the new Titanic exhibition in Belfast.
"There was a perception four or five years ago that Ireland had become an expensive place to visit but that’s no longer the case – hotels are among the cheapest in Europe," said Paul.
Promotion for The Gathering in Australia will highlight Ireland’s value for money under the catchline, Jump Into Ireland.
Ian Jarrett
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive