Nearly 80% of business travellers satisfied with Ireland as a conference or leisure destination

NEARLY 80% of business travellers have said they are satisfied with Ireland as a conference or leisure destination, according to a report commissioned by Tourism Ireland.

The Business Tourism Research survey – conducted by TNS/MRBI between January and April year – found that only 4% of corporate visitors were left unsatisfied with conditions and were unlikely to return on business.

Only 3% of respondents said that they would be slow to recommend Ireland as a destination for holidays or short breaks.

Nearly 50% of visitors surveyed said they were “extremely satisfied” with Ireland as a conference and business destination, with that percentage nudging the 60% mark when the question of recommending Ireland as a tourist destination came up.

The latest survey – aimed at gauging the value of the so-called “MICE” area of the tourism market (meetings, incentive trips, conferences and exhibitions) – was conducted among visitors to a select number of conferences held here during the first quarter of the year (including the European Self Storage Conference, the Irish Open Go Tournament and the International Neurogenetics Conference).

Over half of the respondents were female, nearly 70% were aged over 35 and 40% were visiting from North America (29% came from mainland Europe and 23% from Britain).

The average timespan of visits was for three days.

“Almost a third of all respondents estimated their out-of-pocket expenditure to be over €1,000.

This group is dominated by business people who travelled from North America – perhaps not surprising considering they are more likely to spend longer time in Ireland compared to their European counterparts.

Just 4% of conference delegates claimed they didn’t spend any money while in Ireland,” the survey said.