Tourism Ireland reveals positive outlook for next year

Tourism Ireland has said 2013 looks like it will be a good year for attracting tourists to Ireland from new and emerging markets.

They are hoping 7.6 million visitors will travel here in 2013 and they are estimating those tourists will spend €3.7bn while here, supporting 200,000 jobs.

A main feature of the 2013 programme will be The Gathering, which it is hoped will play its part in bringing in 325,000 of those tourists.

Niall Gibbons, Chief Executive of Tourism Ireland, said 2012 was a record year for visitors from emerging markets.

Mr Gibbons said: "A lot of those economies are unaffected by the global economic crisis, particularly in places like Australia and New Zealand, the New Zealand dollar is very strong.

"And the new routes we have from Etihad and Emirates Airlines coming into Dublin give us 17 flights every week from the Middle East and that has opened up 10 gateways into India, four into China.

"That leaves us four destinations in Australia and one in New Zealand that are only one stop away from Dublin."