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16th Dec 2015

2015 was the best ever year for overseas tourism to Ireland

Tony Cuddihy

Ireland made more than €4bn in tourism from overseas in the first nine months of 2015.

Another moderate summer did not stop tourists from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Germany, Spain, France and Australia from flocking over to Ireland.

Visitors from the UK grew 10% this year, while figures from the Central Statistics Office show that holiday visitors from overseas grew by 19 per cent in the first nine months this year – that translates to an extra half a million holidaymakers from 2014.

The Sunday Business Post reports Niall Gibbons of Tourism Ireland as saying: “Next year, we will unveil Ireland’s Ancient East around the world, while continuing to place a major focus on the Wild Atlantic Way.

“We will also highlight Dublin, in particular capitalising on the recent inclusion of Dublin at number three in the world in the prestigious ‘Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2016.’

“This week’s release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens – which will feature Skellig Michael – also presents Tourism Ireland with a truly unique opportunity to highlight the South West and Ireland in 2016.”

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Topics:

Tourism