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Visitors to Ireland Reached Record High in 2007 A record
7.8 million people visited Ireland in 2007, according to the Irish Tourist
Industry Confederation. Although U.S. business increased by a modest 3.3
percent, industry sources show strong growth from markets in Scandinavia
and Spain.
Tourism is worth an estimated 4 billion euros to the Irish economy and
Britain remains the single largest source with almost half of the total
number of overseas visitors originating in the UK. Looking ahead to 2008
Confederation chairman Dick Bourke said the open skies policy would chiefly
benefit tourist interests in Dublin and the East Coast.
A marketing fund had been established to promote the West of Ireland specifically
but Aer Lingus’ decision to shift UK operations to Belfast meant
there was increased capacity at Shannon airport.
A growing segment of the market is the passing trade of luxury liners.
Some 113 cruise ships docked in Ireland last year, berthing in Dublin,
Cork and Waterford.
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