Tourism chiefs look to cash in on Obama and Queen visit

U.S. and Britian focus of campaigns

CATHAL DERVAN,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Wednesday, May 25, 2011, 8:38 AM

Updated Wednesday, May 25, 2011, 11:34 AM

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US President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle and Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace

Irish tourist chiefs have started plans to cash in on President Obama and Queen Elizabeth with targeted attacks on the American and British markets.

Tourism leaders were called together by Minister Michael Ring to begin exploiting the positive publicity generated by the two visits in the past week.

As Guinness exploit the photo of President Obama downing a pint in Moneygall, so Minister Ring wants to ensure Ireland Inc benefits from the positivity of the past week.

The new government has even offered to put extra money forward to get a maximum return from the media coverage afforded to President Obama and Queen Elizabeth while they were in Ireland.

“If extra money has to be spent, I want this to happen,” said Minister Ring as he looks to boost tourist numbers for the remainder of 2011 after a 16 per cent fall-off in the UK market alone last year,

“We have to build on this, it’s the kind of publicity you couldn’t buy,” added the Minister.
American tourists have already started to flow into Moneygall in the wake of the President’s visit there on Monday.

Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny has also backed the moves by Tourism Ireland and Failte Ireland to exploit the recent visits.

“This is about us, it’s about our potential,” said Kenny. “It’s about recognizing that while we have faced challenges we can come through this.”

“The co-operation shown by our people made the visits of Queen Elizabeth II and the president of the United States of America, Barack Obama, and the Uefa Europa League final very successful. Dublin was centre stage across the world and we made them very welcome.”

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FULL TEXT - President Obama's speech to crowd in Dublin's College Green

PHOTOS: President Obama's trip to Ireland

A day to remember as Barack Obama charms the Irish nation

Guinness cash in on Obama's Moneygall visit

Maureen Dowd (New York Times); Obama happier in Ireland than anywhere else

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antoman | May 26, 2011, 08:24 AM EDT

Its working.I was in the English Market here in Cork yesterday and there were quite a few tourists in there.All snapping away with their cameras.

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Kilsally | May 25, 2011, 02:22 PM EDT

horsesear - did you try to Belfast International rather than Dublin? Wouldn`t be Aer Lingus. Tourism Ireland as an All-Ireland / North-South body was promoting Scotch-Irish / Ulster-Scots heritage trails last year which until recently was an untapped market.

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GeorgeDillon | May 25, 2011, 01:59 PM EDT

HorsesEars: I think that's a bit unfair. If you compare travel US to European cities you'll find Dublin is one of the cheapest cities to fly to. I know that the Airport is a dump, but you won't be more than a few hours there anyway. What I would warn people about is what they call Car Hire. These truly are piranhas, when they see an American walking thru Arrivals looking a bit lost their teeth take on a smiling snarl. Be very scared. They'll give you a dirty car, probably with the tires badly inflated. They'll force you to take on Collision, regardless of how strong a credit card you're using. but if you get a scratch in a parking lot you'll wind up paying treble for it. And of course you won't get to choose which shop to have it fixed in--the rental car crowd will do the choosing & give the work to their buddies.

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mohurryman | May 25, 2011, 01:17 PM EDT

Ya, For my family and myself the fights are now 5600 plus 2000 for a car and you can bet i will top out the K by the time I'm done with the trip,we are staying with my Mom and there is a savings there.What person in there right mind would go there ? better to go to south America and you get a villa by the ocean,maid,nanny and car for that ? Ireland needs to wake up!!! Politicians have NO idea over there. Only my sister is getting married i would not go. I know 20 family's not going because its crazy

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TheHorsesEars | May 25, 2011, 10:13 AM EDT

What Americans in their right mind would want to travel to Ireland this summer for $1400. Aer Lingus are rapists!

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joan1954 | May 25, 2011, 09:57 AM EDT

If Irish Tourism chiefs want to Promote tourism to Ireland then don't preach to the choir which is Boston, NY and Chicago as they get it all the time. What needs to be done is to go out to the hinterlands such as Texas and Oklahoma join in with activities that can mesh with what local Irish organizations are doing. For example San Antonio has a half-way to St. Patrick's Day stew cook-off in September and why not bring Ireland to that and while here visit with travel agents. This could be replicated all over the south.

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