In 2014, visitors to Ireland spent €3.5 billion – €300 million more than the previous year.
The number of overseas tourists increased by 9 per cent to 7.3 million in 2014 – the highest figure since 2008 – with the greatest numbers of visitors coming from the United States, Canada and Germany; North American visitors generated about €120 million more last year than in 2013.
The Irish tourism industry employs more than 200,000 people, with 5,000 jobs added in the past year, and 8,000 more expected in 2015, Eamonn McKeon, chief executive of the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation said in a press conference.
He went on to say that he hopes the industry will benefit from the British-Irish visa scheme, which was introduced in October; it allows visitors from countries such as India and China to visit Ireland on a UK visa.
