Ireland registered a 20 per cent rise in visitor numbers and up to €4.2bn revenues, as a record of 8.6 million foreign tourists have visited the country last year

The total tourists spendings rose 27.8 per cent when compared with 2014. Irish Minister for Tourism Paschal Donohoe declared that the country aims to grow these numbers in the years to come.

“Of course this being St Patrick’s week, Tourism Ireland’s Global Greening initiative is taking place across the world at a time when many people are planning their holidays, giving Ireland an unparalleled platform to encourage people to pay us a visit,” the Minister stated, as he plans to reach €5 billion in overseas tourism revenue by 2025, accounting for 250.000 new jobs in the sector.

According to the latest data from the Central Statistics Office, the spendings of tourists from North America boosted by 28 per cent, while Europeans spent 19.1 per cent more when compared to the previous year. The total number of foreign visitors registered in Ireland during 2015 was up to two million people.

Nevertheless, Shaun Quinn, CEO at Failte Ireland, called for precaution and a strategic approach regarding Irish tourism development. “Fluctuations in the currency markets and international volatility could change our positive outlook very quickly so we would urge the tourism sector to remain vigilant and to continue focusing on consistent and sustainable growth as well as maintaining value for money in the year ahead,” he stated.

Moreover, Chief executive of Tourism Ireland Niall Gibbons has declared that the country should use “every opportunity to capitalise on Ireland’s heightened profile” with the occasion of the 2016 St Patrick’s Day celebrations.

“The saturation coverage about Ireland across the global airwaves, in newspapers and digital media will be an invaluable boost for our overall 2016 tourism promotional drive,” he added.