DUBLIN: The tourism industry is estimated to have brought in €7.3 billion this year. Overseas visitors to Ireland spent an extra €600m compared to 2014, marking a 16% increase.
Domestically Irish people spent €300m more than last year – a 6% increase on last year’s figure. The figures have been released by the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation, and the group is predicting another strong year in 2016. Chairman of the ITIC, Paul Gallagher, says the tourism industry had its best year ever.
ITIC Chief Executive Eoghan O’Mara Walsh said the industry benefited from a number of factors, “including healthy economies fuelling a strong demand for travel in our key source markets, favourable exchange rates, and increased capacity on air and sea services to Ireland”.
The group adds that a target of 5% growth in overseas visitor revenue in 2016 is “eminently achievable”, and is predicting the creation of an extra 6,800 jobs next year.
