Tourism to Ireland next year is expected to hit record levels not seen since the Celtic Tiger.
The British-Irish visa scheme and a series of new attractions will help tempt an estimated 7.74million people to Ireland in 2015, Tourism Ireland has said.
The increase in visitors would be worth €4billion to the Irish economy.
Launching details today of its plans to promote Ireland overseas the tourism body said that by 2025 it aims to welcome 10million people to the island.
That target, if achieved, would contribute €5billion to the economy and sustain 250,000 jobs, it said.
Britain, along with North America and mainland Europe, are key markets for Tourism Ireland, who said it will “target more closely” these “best prospect” regions.
Emerging markets will also be the focus of attention, particularly China and India, where Tourism Ireland will highlight the new British-Irish Visa Scheme.
“The Ireland brand or image abroad is strong,” a spokesperson said. “Exchanges rates for sterling and the dollar are favourable; and the lower price of oil will help make air and sea routes more sustainable.”
Promoting the Wild Atlantic Way and Dublin’s new discovery trail, Dubline, will also be a big focus next year, which marks 150 years since the birth of world-renowned Irish poet and Nobel laureate, WB Yeats.
Tourism Ireland will promote Yeats 2015 to its ‘culturally curious’ audience as well as ID2015 (the year of Irish design) which will showcase of the best of Irish design on the world stage.
“There is a direct correlation between tourism growth and good connectivity,” said Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe, speaking at the launch.
“The expansion of ferry services on the Irish Sea provided a major boost for tourism in 2014 and the promise of further expansion of air services in 2015 bodes well for the future. Continuing to offer distinctive holiday experiences that are tailored to specific markets, such as golfers and adventure tourists, will also help keep us ahead of the game.”
Among new travel routes for 2015 are an Aer Lingus flight from Washington DC to Dublin, a United Airlines flight from Chicago, a Transavia service from Paris, as well as other air routes like a Finnair service from Helsinki and SAS flight from Gothenburg, Sweden.
By the end of this month it is estimated that 7.3million people will have visited Ireland in 2014 – an 8.8 per cent increase on 2013.
Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland, said: “2014 is set to be another record year for visitor numbers from North America, Germany, France and Spain, as well as from our long-haul markets.”
He added: “Following a successful 2014, ambitious targets have been set for 2015 and beyond. We will highlight the new British-Irish Visa Scheme in China and India, which will enable Chinese and Indian visitors to visit both Ireland and the UK, including Northern Ireland, on a single visa of either country.”
If the target figure of 7.74million visitors to Ireland in 2015 is achieved it will surpass the previous record year of 2007 and represent growth of six per cent over 2014.
At its launch today, Tourism Ireland also unveiled its new ‘Jump into Ireland’ TV ads – part of a global advertising campaign that will launch in January.
The soundtrack for the ads is the hit single Love Like This by Dublin band Kodaline.
