Rise in visitors gives tourism shot in arm

MORE than three million visitors came to Ireland in the first six months of this year, an increase of 4% on the corresponding period in 2004.

The figures, released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) yesterday, were generally seen as a shot in the arm for the tourist industry, although they include many business travellers, and not just holidaymakers.

Tourism Minister John O’Donoghue welcomed the increase in visitor numbers, but said they couldn’t be taken as a wholly accurate reflection of the sector.