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Hopes for 7.6 million visitors to Ireland in 2013

Tourism Ireland is aiming to attract 7.6 million visitors to this country next year. And they are...
Newstalk
Newstalk

10.29 29 Nov 2012


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Hopes for 7.6 million visitors...

Hopes for 7.6 million visitors to Ireland in 2013

Newstalk
Newstalk

10.29 29 Nov 2012


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Tourism Ireland is aiming to attract 7.6 million visitors to this country next year.

And they are estimating those tourists will spend €3.7 billion while they are here supporting 200,000 industry jobs in the process.

A main feature of the 2013 programme will be 'The Gathering' which it is hoped will play its part in bringing in 325,000 of those tourists.

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The body says North America and mainland Europe hold the key to tourism growth next year.

It sees figures for North America this year as being one of the strongest years ever and that the number of airline seats from the United States to Ireland is set to grow by 20% for next summer.

A new 3-year plan to be called "Make Ireland Jump Out" will be rolled out in the US in 2013.

Tourism Ireland says it aims to increase the number of American visitors by 20% between 2013 and 2015 and to win a greater share of all travel by Americans to Europe.

Key European markets

While it also has its sights set on mainland Europe as an increasingly important market for Irish tourism.

It hopes to welcome almost 2.5 million European visitors next year which translates to an increase of 4.4%.

It will prioritise its resources into the 2 key markets of Germany and France - followed by Italy, the Nordics, Spain and the Netherlands.

While a new strategy for the UK will also be implemented to grow the number of British holidaymakers by an additional 200,000 holiday visitors per year by 2016.

Speaking at the launch the Minister for Tourism Leo Varadkar said "Tourism is central to government plans for economic recovery".

"Everybody in Government, Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland is leaving no stone unturned to reach our ambitious target of 325,000 extra visitors next year".

"With the support of the wider community at home and abroad, I am confident we can deliver growth of over 5% in overseas visits next year, with the knock-on benefits in terms of revenue and jobs in every part of the country" he added.

Niall Gibbons is the Chief Executive of Tourism Ireland.

He says it looks like a number of factors will benefit the sector next year.


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