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TOURISM Ireland hosted a function in Sydney yesterday to inform media of a range of initiatives happening in Irelan d next year, which is sure to spur more visitors to the country. Special guest, Caitriona Ingoldsby, Consul General for Ireland, announced that overall visits to Ireland for Q2 of 2011 are up 15%, including a 5% year on year increase in Australian travellers. Ingoldsby said recent research found that Aussies have ranked Ireland 10th of 23 countries they have expressed an interest in travelling to, confirming the close ties Australia shares with Ireland. Tourism Ireland mgr Aust/NZ Orla Saul also used the event to applaud Emirates for its recent announcement of new daily service between Dubai- Dublin, to launch in Jan (TD 09 Jun). She said “direct, convenient and competitive access services are critical to achieving growth in inbound tourism, and we believe that this new service to Dublin will help entice more visitors.” Among key fesitvals/events for 2012 is the Titantic Festival being held in Belfast in Apr/May, which will celebrate all things Titanic. The event includes a Titanic light show, Titanic musical and launch of the 3D re-mastered James Cameron film, Titanic. It will also serve as the launch pad for the new Titanic Belfast (TD 18 May), that hopes to attract 400,000 annual visitors. Other festivals/events planned include the St Patrick’s Festival in Dublin on 16-19 Mar, the Galway Arts Festival in Jul and the 50th Anniversary of the Belfast Festival at Queens in Oct. |
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