North America bookings flying high, says tour operator

A major tour operator in the US and Canada last night said bookings into Ireland were up 20% on this time last year.

Brian Stack, managing director of CIÉ Tours International, also said 2013 was another successful year, with business up 20%, giving around 400,000 bed nights in towns and cities across the country.

He attributed the growth to the retention of the lower Vat rate, significant increases in air access, and Tourism Ireland’s strong promotion of Ireland, making it a “hot” destination due to The Gathering.

“We believe we can attribute half of our growth last year to The Gathering. Our estimates indicate that it alone brought in around 4,500 additional visitors on our tours, which generated revenue in the region of €7m.

“Bookings are up 20% on this time last year and, with confidence booming in our largest market, further increases in air connectivity and another major American football game in autumn, we are cautiously optimistic that 2014 will surpass 2013," he told winners of the CIÉ Tours International Awards of Excellence, at a ceremony in Dublin.

Twelve overall category winners were chosen, based on customer satisfaction with over 450 providers of accommodation, dining, tours and attractions. Merit awards were made to those achieving over 90% satisfaction rating in the surveys.