MORE than 1.6million tourists flocked to Ireland from Britain in the first half of the year, figures have revealed.
This marks a 140,000 increase on last year in the number of people visiting the Emerald Isle from this side of the Irish Sea between January and June.
This week as the summer holiday season continues, the Irish Government pledged to improve Ireland’s value for money rating —something Irish Post readers say is a must if they are to continue to visit the country.
“We must be mindful of the mistakes that were made in the past and ensure that they are not repeated,” Tourism Minister Paschal Donoghue said at the launch of Tourism Ireland’s mid-year overseas tourism report.
The Minister cited lower tax rates on the tourism sector as well as cutting the air travel tax in April 2014 as reasons for the increase in visitors.
Tourism bosses credited cultural draws such as the Irish Year of Design and the 150th anniversary of the birth of WB Yeats with helping to boost numbers.
They said they also expect next year’s Irish independence centenary commemorations to be an even bigger draw.
On Monday, The Irish Post spoke to a number of British holidaymakers about their experiences of travelling to Ireland.
Dublin-based Tina Poole, whose family often visit from England, said that despite Ireland being a beautiful holiday destination, food and drink is too expensive.
“The flights to Ireland are cheap, but my family need a lot of spending money when they come home,” she said.
“Ireland is just as beautiful as anywhere and the people are great. It’s the people running this country, ruining it with their off-the-wall rules and regulations, that’s the downfall.”
Isabelle Green, from Coatbridge in Scotland, added that while she loves Ireland, ferry prices are “too high”.
“I can travel to France a lot cheaper and there are always deals, I feel the ferry companies take advantage of the Irish tourists,” she said.
Fiona Parfitt, who lives in Dorset, paid £340 for a return trip by ferry to Ireland, but said she’d recommend anyone to visit.
“I can’t get enough of the beautiful scenery, I love to see the dolphins in the Shannon,” she said. “The cost of food has crept up a bit but as we stay with family we saved on lodgings.”
According to LateRooms.com a three-star hotel in three of Ireland’s major cities costs on average as follows: Cork £63; Galway £93 and Dublin £93.
This is comparatively more than in popular European cities where a room in Paris costs £78; Berlin £54 and Madrid £41.
But Northop-based Dawn Furber said she found inexpensive places to eat and drink during her visit from Wales.
Tourism Ireland added that 2015 is also on track to boast the best ever growth in visitors from mainland Europe and North America.
So far there has been an increase of 407,100 global visitors to Ireland this year on last.
What tourists think of Ireland as a holiday destination
Sheila Ferrie, Stafford (family in Galway)
“The people in Ireland are so genuine, and the landscapes are beautiful. The only drawback is the weather!”
Paul Lang Standall, Nottingham (mother is from Mayo)
“We’re heading to see the family in Mayo for a few days, and then we’ll head to Castlebar to take a drive and hopefully visit some beaches. It’s only the third time in seven years that I’m going to Ireland, and I’m looking forward to the scenic drive.”
Ann Hartley, Warrington
“The lovely people and delicious Irish stew and soda bread. Irish breakfasts, countryside mountains, Ring of Kerry, there’s too many to list them all.”
See More: British Tourists, Featured, Ireland, Tourism
