US tourism to Ireland returns to pre-9/11 levels

The number of American tourists visiting Ireland has returned to level of before 9-11, following an 11% increase this year.

New figures from the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation also reveal a 5% increase in British visitors to this country.

Overall, 7.5 million tourists visited Ireland this year, generating around €6bn for the economy.

ITIC Director Eamonn McKeon says US numbers are good, but some others are even better.

“The star performer was continental Europe - France, Germany, of course Eastern Europe, the accession states - numbers were up almost 20% from there,” he said.