Ireland looks at new ways to expand tourism success

Recently Tourism Ireland announced that 2017 has been the “best year ever” for overseas tourism to Ireland. The country attracted around 10.65 million visitors generating roughly €5.78 billion in revenue. Ireland has been innovative in exploiting its rich cultural history and great natural beauty over the years. 

Fáilte Ireland's, (National Tourism Development Authority of Ireland), successes include the development of the Wild Atlantic Way (Irish: Slí an Atlantaigh Fhiáin) concept which was launched in 2014. This is a 2,500 (1,553 mile) driving route passing through nine counties and three provinces. It stretches from County Donegal's Inishowen Peninsula in Ulster to Kinsale, County Cork, in Munster, on the Celtic Sea coast.

Fáilte Ireland is now looking to expand on its Ireland’s Ancient East trail. The proposition is to explore the possibility of developing a “Viking Coast” concept to attract tourists to the south-east of the country. The development of touring routes is increasingly recognised as a way to generate regional economic development, which in turn provides additional jobs and grows the local economy. There is clearly an ongoing fascination with the strong Viking links to the Celtic nations which Ireland is keen to explore in its development of tourism.