Germany and France offer significant potential for Irish tourism, according to a new strategy unveiled by Tourism Ireland. The launch was attended by tourism businesses from around Ireland – including Nora Heraty of Westport House Caravan and Camping Park. Tourism Ireland’s new three-year plan, ‘Germany and France – A Strategy for Growth’, sets out challenging and ambitious targets which will see the number of German and French visitors to the island of Ireland grow to 1.1 million by 2016, delivering revenue of €602 million for the economies north and south.
2013 was a record year for visitor numbers to Ireland from Germany and France – our third- and fourth-largest tourist-generating markets. The new strategy, which was developed in close co-operation with Fáilte Ireland, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC ), as well as commercial industry and travel trade partners, at home and overseas, will build on this success and drive accelerated growth from both markets over the coming three years.
Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland, said: “2013 was a record year for visitor numbers from Germany and France. However, we can’t take this performance for granted; we need to adapt and respond to new opportunities to ensure that success continues. I am confident that this new, focused strategy – developed in conjunction with Fáilte Ireland, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation and our other key tourism partners at home and overseas – will deliver on the targets we have set for growth in German and French visitors, between now and 2016.”
