Half of tourists will ‘definitely’ return to Ireland

More than half of tourists will definitely make return visits to Ireland.

And they will be lured back, primarily, by the people and the scenery.

According to a survey by Fáilte Ireland, holidaymakers from overseas continue to rate Ireland as value for money, with culture also among its strongest assets.

The survey of more than 1,500 tourists last year found that 39% felt their experience exceeded expectations, while six out of 10 said Ireland met expectations.

Those whose holiday exceeded expectations cited reasons including:

* Irish people 68%;

* Scenery 54%;

* Irish history and culture 31%;

* Weather was better than expected 30%;

* Food quality and variety 21%.

The top five experiences mentioned by visitors were:

* Listened to live music in a pub 83%;

* Visited a coastal town 82%;

* Tasted a Guinness 79%;

* Visited a food or craft market 49%;

* Took part in a city tour 41%.

Some 56% said they would definitely return in the next few years, while four in 10 hope to return at some point.

While most visitors expressed some level of intent to recommend Ireland to family and friends, 66% expressed the strongest level of endorsement and would definitely be encouraging friends and family to visit.

In terms of the long-haul market, eight out of 10 North Americans said they would definitely be endorsing Ireland.

Some 51% of overseas visitors found Ireland to be good or very good value for money while four in 10 found it to be fair.

Food and drink costs were mentioned as competitive disadvantages by only 9% of visitors, a significant fall from 2012.

Fáilte Ireland chief executive Shaun Quinn said the prospects for the tourism sector were “really strong”.

“As the sector continues to shift from the domestic market to a greater focus on more lucrative high-value overseas visitors, it will bolster its contribution to the country’s overall recovery,” he said.

Leo Varadkar, the tourism minister, said the twin attractions of the Irish people and scenery were still a top draw.

“I’m encouraged Ireland is still a value-for-money destination. As tourism recovers, we must resist the temptation to fall back into the habits we saw during the boom. It’s imperative that we maintain our good value and warm welcome to ensure a sustainable recovery in the sector,” he said.