The Guinness Storehouse experienced a record-breaking year for visitors last year, with 1,711,281 people arriving to investigate the venue in 2017, representing a rise of 1.5 million from 2016.
According to thejournal.ie, the figure for last year brings the total amount of visitors who have passed through the Storehouse's doors since its opening in 2000 to 18 million.
Commenting on the above figures, Guinness Storehouse managing director Paul Carty said, "Our aim is to position Ireland and the Guinness Storehouse as a year-round, 'must visit' destination and to ensure that the contribution of overseas tourism to the economy continues to expand. This year we saw a strong market diversification and visitor growth from long-haul markets in Asia Pacific."
A survey of over 500 visitors conducted independently by the Guinness Storehouse found that approximately a third (34%) of participants said that the venue was a key factor in their decision to journey to Ireland. This reportedly resulted in an injection of €361.2 million into the country's economy across a one year period.
2018 is set to see an expansion of visitor facilities at the popular tourist attraction, including the doubling in size of its Gravity Bar, the construction of a new Guinness Storehouse Hub, and the development of a new whiskey distillery and urban quarter by Diageo adjacent to St. James's Gate.
