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Ireland's Tourism Industry
According to the CSO, in 2007 over 8 million visitors came to Ireland contributing €4,9 billion to the economy . At the same time expenditure by Irish tourists abroad amounted to €6,163. Irish tourists expenditure abroad has exceeded that of foreign visitors in Ireland since 2003 and continuing a trend beginning in 2003. The earnings differential has increased from €101 million in 2003 to €1,261 in 2007. Irish residents spent €1,551 on domestic trips in 2007 or more than twice that spent in 2000. The most popular activity undertaken by domestic holiday makers in 2007 was visiting national parks. Hiking / hillwalking was the most popular activity for overseas visitors.
Over half of all trips were for holiday purposes, 15% for business and just over 28% was for the purpose of visiting friends or relatives. Half of all visitors or over 4 million were from the UK, 2.5 million from elsewhere in Europe and just over 1 million from the US and Canada. The number of visitors from the US and Canada has been fairly static in recent years while the number of visitors from the UK has grown steadily. The greatest growth has occurred in visitors from continental Europe up from 1.45 million in 2000 to 2.59 million in 2007 (+78%). The average length of stay for all trips was 7.3 nights. The most popular destination was Dublin and the South West region while the Midlands and North West received the least number of visitors. More information have a look at Tourism Trends 2007 published by the CSO.
Back to nature, health related holidays, cultural, heritage and traditional leisure pursuits are the latest trends. Two elements that will demand consideration for the future are different product offerings and better access.
Regional airports with increased flights are helping to overcome the access problems. Rural tourism can offer a different product and there are plenty of successful accommodation and activity products being offered by Irish farm families some of which are outlined on this site
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Rural tourism has great potential as an income earning option provided quality and customer care are priorities. This form of supplementary income on farms is not new to Ireland; the Farmhouse Holidays Association based at 2 Micheal St Limerick is in existence since the 1960s promoting the Farm Holiday experience to potential tourists. Despite the growth of budget hotels around Ireland, farmers offering a true farmhouse holiday experience are achieving up to 70% occupancy and commanding higher prices for evening meals. Profit margins are helped by the fact that their own farm produce is being used. Locally produced food product such as cheeses adds to the authenticity of the farmhouse holiday. Providing
what the customer wants is essential
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