In some good news for Tourism in Ireland, the number of tourists that visited the country in the second quarter 2011, there was a 15% increase in comparison to 2010. The high profile visits of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and US President Barack Obama have really helped paint Ireland in a positive light. Without a doubt, the presence of Ireland as a popular holiday destination suffered during the years of the ‘Celtic Tiger’. Tourists on a budget were ultimately put off by the presence of high prices and poor value …
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Big Boost For Irish Tourism
The latest figures show that there are shoots of recovery in the Irish tourism industry, with an increase in overseas visitors in Quarter 2. This is really welcome news after the doom and gloom in the sector over the past few years. The statisics from the survey show that there has been a 9% increase in visitors from overseas to the Republic of Ireland and a further 4% to Northern Ireland. The figures show that all key markets have shown a welcome increase. UK visitors have increased by 7%, there has been a 12% …
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Ireland Travel Tax To Remain In Place
In the latest twist to the Ireland air travel tax question, the Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar confirmed that the Irish Government have decided that the €3 air travel tax will remain in place for the present, and shall be reviewed again in Spring 2012. As part of the new Government tourism plan launched last May, the Government had stated that the tax would be suspended if a deal could be initiated with the airlines on reinstating routes that had been cancelled or with the air carriers’ opening of new routes. The aim was to …
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Free Family Things To Do In Dublin
Family disposable income is at a premium during these harsh economic times, however that doesn’t mean that you cannot enjoy a day out at little or no cost! Dublin is home to many attractions that will not cost you anything at all to visit, and you can have a great family day out together without breaking the bank one bit. Read on for more about Free Things To Do In Dublin… Trinity CollegeTrinity was founded in the late 16th century, and as such is the oldest University in Ireland. We …
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Tourism Sector Urged To Pass On VAT Cut
Minister for Tourism Mr Leo Varadkar has urged all tourism related businesses to roll out the VAT cuts to consumers, where applicable. The 4% VAT reduction on tourism services was announced by the Irish government in May 2011 as a means to improve consumer spending in the hospitality and service industries. Mr Varadkar has strongly emphasised the need for the quick introduction of the VAT cuts, as this government initiative will only properly work if relevant businesses pass on the 4% VAT reduction, thus giving better value to consumers, and ultimately get …
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Difficult Times For Irish Hotel Sector
2011 is proving to be a hugely difficult year for the Irish Hotel sector, as the very latest industry survey reveals. The research has shown that around one hotel a week will go ‘bust’ during this year, which is a shocking statistic and an unfortunate reminder of the challenging economic times that we currently live in. The hotel survey of 2011 has shown that over 10% of Irish hotels are currently in receivership, with one going into bank ownership every week, with an estimated 50 hotels predicted to go bust by the end of the year. Despite the fact that Irish …
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Local Anger At Ballyvaughan Signpost Removal
We’ve all seen this iconic signpost many times – indeed it has been used in the marketing of Ireland as a tourist destination in the past in many print media campaigns. The removal of the famous signpost in the County Clare village of Ballyvaughan has led to anger amongst the local population, who fear that the sign removal will have an adverse affect on Clare tourism, not only in the village but also the surrounding areas. The decision by the National Roads Authority of Ireland to remove the tourism landmark of Ballyvaughan has caused a lot of recent …
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Big Surge In Overseas Tourist Interest In Ireland
Just two weeks after the official state visit to Ireland by Queen Elizabeth, the first visit by an English reigning monarch to Ireland since 1911, there has been a huge increase in the online searches of British people interested in visiting Ireland. The very warm welcome afforded to the British Head of State has resonated with prospective British tourists who are interested themselves in visiting and experiencing the ’Céad Míle Fáilte’ for themselves! As a result, hotels in Ireland, restaurateurs and tourism attractions are all looking for the ‘Moneygall’ effect, which will …
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Irish State Visits A Resounding Success
We have all watched the news, print media and even followed the events unfold live on television, but one thing is certain – the official Irish state visits in the past week by US President Barack Obama and Queen Elizabeth II have been an resounding success. The huge 60,000 crowd that gathered at College Green to greet the President two days ago, and the warm welcome afforded to the Queen wherever she went as part of her Ireland itinerary is a testament to the huge success of the visits. In a major coup for Irish tourism and a …
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Dublin Hosts The 2011 Europa League Final
This Wednesday May 18th sees the Europa League Final coming to Dublin city, when crack Portugese outfit FC Porto take on the surprise package Sporting Braga in the decider. The refurbished and brand new Aviva Stadium (formerly Lansdowne Road) is the venue for the showpiece of European Football’s second tier trophy, a prestigious prize which awaits either of the two Portuguese finalists. If you are in town for the game and looking for some quality last minute accommodation in Dublin, you will need to book fast as time is running out! Braga are in …
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