Ireland is among the top three worldwide destinations people would like to visit before they die, according to TripAdvisor’s bi-annual "TripBarometer" survey. 
In the survey of 10,000 American respondents, Ireland ranks alongside Australia and Italy as a dream destination.
"The results of this TripAdvisor survey are good news indeed and confirm our own research that Ireland is high on the wish-list for Americans as a dream destination," Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland, told the Irish Independent.
"Our strategy is to reach out to those people across the US who are well disposed towards Ireland – and get them to book that trip to Ireland now."
He added that 980,000 US visitors visited Ireland last year, surpassing the previous record set in 2007.
"We are also highlighting the many great festivals and events taking place in Ireland this year – including Limerick City of Culture; next month's Grande Partenza or 'Big Start' of the Giro d'Italia; and, of course, the Croke Park Classic, when the University of Central Florida takes on Penn State in their college football season opener next August," he said.
The survey also found that international travel is up 14 percent, with 67 percent of those surveyed saying they will be leaving the U.S. when they travel this year. Travel budgets have also grown, with the average American setting aside $8,272 for vacation this year, compared to $8202 last year.
***http://blog.tripadvisor.com/blog/2014/04/23/2014-tripadvisor-tripbarometer-international-travel-up/
****http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/travel/ireland-a-dream-trip-for-most-americans-30219722.html

Ireland is among the top three worldwide destinations people would like to visit before they die, according to TripAdvisor’s bi-annual "TripBarometer" survey

In the survey of 10,000 American respondents, Ireland ranks alongside Australia and Italy as a dream destination.

"The results of this TripAdvisor survey are good news indeed and confirm our own research that Ireland is high on the wish-list for Americans as a dream destination," Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland, told the Irish Independent.

"Our strategy is to reach out to those people across the US who are well disposed towards Ireland – and get them to book that trip to Ireland now."

He added that 980,000 US visitors visited Ireland last year, surpassing the previous record set in 2007.

"We are also highlighting the many great festivals and events taking place in Ireland this year – including Limerick City of Culture; next month's Grande Partenza or 'Big Start' of the Giro d'Italia; and, of course, the Croke Park Classic, when the University of Central Florida takes on Penn State in their college football season opener next August," he said.

The survey also found that international travel is up 14 percent, with 67 percent of those surveyed saying they will be leaving the U.S. when they travel this year. Travel budgets have also grown, with the average American setting aside $8,272 for vacation this year, compared to $8,202 last year.