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The Gathering effect? Numbers traveling to Ireland from United States soar

Travelers increased by 14.2 percent as Diaspora comes home

MICHELLE K SMITH,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Tuesday, January 29, 2013, 7:26 AM

Updated Tuesday, January 29, 2013, 9:19 AM

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From October to December 2012 the number of trips to Ireland from North America increased by 14.2 percent, which is up to 201,300 trips from the same time last year. The Central Statistics Office has just reported the figures.

The period coincides with significant publicity about The Gathering, the call from the Irish government for the Diaspora to come home.

The big increase would seem to indicate that the concept is working and it will fully play out over the next 12 months.

Irish Transport minister Leo Varadkar welcomed the growth in 2012.

“Although there was a slow start in 2012, we saw strong growth in the later part of the year with very strong growth from North America, core European and long-haul markets," he said. "Visitor numbers from Britain fell but it is important to point out that visitors from further away stay longer and spend more.

The total number of global trips to and from Ireland has increased 4.4 percent to 279,400 trips to Ireland when compared to the same time last year according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

Although 2013 is still very young, these figures seem to show that The Gathering is having some impact on people’s travels.

The North American figure is especially noticeable as major advertising for The Gathering has taken place here.

Other parts of the world have also seen an increase in travel to the Emerald Isle. Travel from Europe (excluding Britain) increased 8.8 percent to 505,400 trips. Travelers from other areas, including Africa, Australia, and the Middle East increased 15.5 percent to 85,000 trips. This is not surprising since the Irish diaspora reaches over several continents.

The Irish Diaspora is 70 million strong, Many Irish emigrated to Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand among other places throughout the course of Irish history. The Great Hunger in the mid nineteenth century in particular scattered many Irish abroad.

However, residents around the Irish Sea are traveling elsewhere. Britain saw a decrease in the number of visitors jumping across the Irish Sea. British visitors decreased 1.3 percent with 646,400 trips. Between October and December 2012, Irish residents made 1,360,400 trips overseas, showing a 3.8 percent increase.

Irish tourism experienced a 0.5 percent increase from 2011 to 2012 with 6,325,800 trips.

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saraindc | Feb 24, 2013, 01:27 PM EST

I also agree with lafayquinn - i travelled home for Christmas during that period referred to and it had nothing to do with the Gathering. I live in Washington DC and it hasnt been mentioned anywhere around DC or on any of our local channels. Neither is anyone I talk to aware of it - i'm always meeting people who say they'd love to travel to Ireland and I encourage them (somewhat sheepishly knowing how expensive things are back home) to travel this year because there is somewhat of a guarantee they will hit some kind of festival or music session around the country. I do so hesitatingly because i worry the expense of it will put people off - even my flights alone are now 4 times what they were 4 years ago - it used to be i could get an "out of peak" flight for $449 return from Shannon to DC (via New York). This past 2 years i've barely managed to get the same flight for under $899 - you are NOT going to get people to travel if you don't work out a deal with the airlines to put the prices back to levels we know they can afford and stop fleecing regular customers (like me) who travel to see family 2/3 times a year if we can (including funeral trips which i aslo had to make this January). They can promote the Gathering all they want but its not getting coverage locally around the USA and its relying heavily on those of us aware of it to promote it, which we do reluctantly because its too expensive a trip!!!

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saraindc | Feb 24, 2013, 01:22 PM EST

I agree with Smyrnian - I am usually back in Ireland every quarter and find everytime its got more expensive. I like to pay for groceries for my sisters family given i'm staying with her most of the time and notice the costs compared to the USA. No wonder I can't consider moving back to Ireland - its cheaper to live in the USA!!

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Smyrnian | Feb 01, 2013, 07:01 AM EST

I go back every 6 months or so but I do find the place incredibly expensive. It's killing tourism.

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Portia_O'Neill | Jan 30, 2013, 08:51 PM EST

It's hoped that when they gather together they invest in those ghost estates we hear so much about.

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beachcomber | Jan 30, 2013, 04:15 PM EST

I second lafayquinn's thoughts, I too traveled to Ireland during that time period, but it had nothing to do with The Gathering which I also knew nothing about. Aside from this website and a mention in USA Today, I haven't seen any advertisements for it at all...where are they pushing it? And how come there's been no mention here about the new Ireland dot com website? It was created by a British firm and quite frankly, it's not so good. Not very user friendly, too many photo-shopped photos, and just, I don't know, doesn't really highlight the magic and wonder of Ireland, which is what the tourism board itself doesn't seem to grasp, either. It's too bad, really, they're sitting on a pot of gold, yet they don't see it. With the push for packages and bus tours, it really does come off as a "cash grab" kind of place, and it's not. Perception is everything. Managinnty, I feel your pain.

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mamaginnty | Jan 29, 2013, 04:52 PM EST

Thesee are pumped up figures. The people are embarrassed about this so called gathering, making us feel we should be out with our begging bowls and a smile. Most are angry because sons and daughters that had to leave looking for work cannot afford to come home.

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cillowen | Jan 29, 2013, 11:25 AM EST

count me out - Beowolf stricken NIR-UKer wuzzey.

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lafayquinn | Jan 29, 2013, 09:42 AM EST

I traveled to Ireland in that time period from North America, but it had nothing to do with advertisements for The Gathering. I don't think I saw anything about The Gathering until I got home. I actually don't think its been effectively advertised in the USA. I saw maybe one commercial.

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