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Tourism up dramatically in Ireland in 2011 figures show

US leads the way in tourism revival for Emerald Isle

DARA KELLY,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Sunday, July 31, 2011, 8:18 AM

Updated Sunday, July 31, 2011, 11:33 AM

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13 Comments

Tourism in Ireland is up this year

The number of visitors to Ireland is up this year and the Irish tourism industry is reporting a "good recovery" in the figures.

The US is leading the way with a 12 percent increase in numbers, a dramatic increase from 2010. More Americans traveling and cheaper hotels and restaurants are also having a major impact.

According to data collated by Tourism Ireland, figures show a 9 percent increase in overseas visitors to the Republic and a 4 percent increase in visitors to Northern Ireland in the first quarter of the year.

There has been an increase of 7 percent in the number of visitors from the UK, 12 percent from North America, 10 percent from mainland Europe and 5 percent from elsewhere, reports the Irish Times.

Passengers to Dublin airport are up 7 percent. However, regional airports are struggling.

A recovery in visitor numbers will only occur if the UK market recovers to pre-recession levels, stated Tourism Ireland in its mid-year Situation and Outlook Analysis and Report (Soar).

Global tourism is seeing a worldwide increase, with 4 to 5 percent growth, with a 6 percent growth in Europe.

New local ambassadors tourist initiative launched in Dublin

Irish government measures to boost tourism in Ireland

Nster.com

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13 Comments

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maloney | Aug 02, 2011, 11:56 PM EDT

georgie, you're to fricking stupid to know what a racist is!! Maggot face!!

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maloney | Aug 01, 2011, 07:26 PM EDT

Ah common georgie, don't you want to give me a good kick in the ass? No guts no glory.

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GeorgeDillon | Aug 01, 2011, 03:47 PM EDT

Baloney--I don't want anything to do with you. You're a stinking racist. Racists deserve a good kick in their ugly asses. They sure won't get dialog from me.

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maloney | Aug 01, 2011, 12:52 PM EDT

georgie..let's get together and bury the hatchet. Where was it you said you lived? I'm just up the road in NC.

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themurphia | Aug 01, 2011, 10:49 AM EDT

I agree with George..Italia is Bella...!

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GeorgeDillon | Aug 01, 2011, 03:33 AM EDT

KMcSinger: That's a pretty crazy misinterpretation on your part. The fact is that I LOVE Ireland. That's why I stand with the 70% or so of Irish people who don't want to become an ethnic minority in their own ancient homeland. The ones who hate Ireland are the capitalist and political class over there and their useful idiots among the Immigwation lobby. You even see a few of these dopes posting here. Do you want to see the Irish becoming an ethnic minority in their country, in your lifetime? If you do you're as much a racist as the other posters--maloney etc.

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GeorgeDillon | Aug 01, 2011, 03:29 AM EDT

Oldat26, you're not just a dumb racist, you're a dumb racist who can't spell. It's not too "oldat26" to go back to grade school and listen to the English teachers who you never paid any mind to as a child. How many errors are in your stupid racist outburst?--"@GeorgeDillo - My god what an ignorent basterd you are. Racist to i'm guessing". I'm sure there are literacy aids on the net that you should be availing of instead of wasting our time here.

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maloney | Jul 31, 2011, 09:47 PM EDT

georgie..Just how many times was it your mom dropped you on your head as a child? PUKE!!

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oldat26 | Jul 31, 2011, 08:54 PM EDT

@GeorgeDillo - My god what an ignorent basterd you are. Racist to i'm guessing.... Ireland would do better wihout people like you doing business in it.

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canadianirish | Jul 31, 2011, 05:44 PM EDT

An increase of 12% of North American visitors..outstanding!! I visited last year for 10 days and wish I could have travelled back this year for another 10 or 20 or 30..an absolutely BEAUTIFUL country! I can't wait to return..plan to next year (am saving for it!) :)

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KMcSinger | Jul 31, 2011, 04:40 PM EDT

If you hate Ireland why do you read this site George?

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GeorgeDillon | Jul 31, 2011, 03:32 PM EDT

I'm just back from a trip to Ireland. Not a vacation, business. I don't vacation in Ireland any more. Boring country, once you get past the blarney and baloney. When folks ask me if I recommend Ireland, I always say it's worth about four days of a two-week trip to Europe. The rest of your time would be better devoted to Britain or France or, better still la Bella Italia. Two things struck me about Ireland this time. One was the number of new cars on the road. Over there you can tell how old the car is because the plate gives the year. It was amazing how in a bankrupt country there are so many <11> cars. The second thing that impressed me was the vast numbers of foreign migrants. Not just in a Dublin, where the downtown area is now more like Delhi than Dublin. But out in the country. I was in Athlone, and was dumbfounded by the numbers of foreign migrants. And they're all in the mating age group. Easy to see where that is leading--the Irish will be an ethnic minority in their own place withing a decade or two. They're fools--they deserve everything bad that happens them.

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hooligan6a | Jul 31, 2011, 10:11 AM EDT

I went to Irelnd this year, so I did my part. I had a great time in Dublin, Cork and Galway.

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