Tourism Rise in Ireland – Good News for Dublin 8
Tourism in Ireland is on the rise which potentially means that next year will be a positive one for Dublin 8’s 1916 Rising Centenary Celebrations. The area will be hosting many activities for visitors and tourists with the 1916 commemorations in mind. New visitor centres will be opening in the area, sporting tea gardens and offering tours to entertain the curious and starved.
The likes of Richmond Barracks, Kilmainham Courthouse and Gaol, Teeling Distillery and Guinness Storehouse, are all destinations that will collaborate with the festivities and there are many other entrepreneurs getting ready to join what promises to be a memorable year for everyone who has an interest in the history of the Republic of Ireland, and also for those who just want a reason to celebrate while on holiday in Dublin and elsewhere in the country.
Recent CSO figures shows that journeys for the purpose of business, visits to friends and relatives, holiday, leisure and recreation, have all increased in the first quarter of 2015 compared to last year. Overseas trips to Ireland have risen by 14.1%. Business trips are up from 286,000 to 364,000 from January to March. Visits to friends and relatives are up from 466,000 to 488,000 and holiday, leisure and recreation visits are up from 475,000 to 538,000 in the first quarter.
Most visitors are non-residents and the statistics shows that the number of overseas trips to Ireland by non-residents increased from 1.343 million in the first quarter of 2014 to 1.531 million trips from overseas visitors in the first quarter of 2015. Tourists and visitors are also spending more nights in Ireland while they are here and the number of nights spent have increased by 12.6% compared to the same time last year.
Overseas travellers have given the Irish economy a boost and earnings gathered from tourism and travel have increased from €699 million to €780 million, making that a 11.6% rise in income gathered from the tourist industry. This is with fares included and without fares and only expenditure considered; there has been a 10.5% rise in earnings. Travelling by air still seems to be the preferred mode of travel and 1.432 million flyers have made their way to Ireland between January to March this year. Tourists and travellers also prefer taking overnight trips instead of same day trips.
British visitors have increased to 726 million up 13.4% from last year’s first quarter when 635 million British visitors made their way here. 2014 was a better year than 2012 and 2013 as Ireland enjoyed more visitors entering the country last year. Other countries that love visiting Ireland include France, Germany, Italy, USA & Canada, and Australia & New Zealand. Other European countries and the USA & Canada were second in numbers to Great Britain.
If this trend keeps up, next year will definitely be a success, with a lot of Americans expected to make the trip for the celebrations. Tourism plays a big part in developments in the Dublin 8 area, places like Richmond Barracks, Dublina work with Dublin City Council to train tourist guides, thus upskilling and qualifying people who will go on the work in the industry. In addition, the rise of tourism to Ireland, (and specifically own small patch of the island), will have a knock on affect with other local supporting business. This is all positive news.
