Holiday in Ireland in the footsteps of Queen Elizabeth II & President Obama
A major domestic tourism package including the €1 million Discover Ireland Summer 2011 promotion campaign and discounts of up to 50% for weekend rail travel has been launched today (Wednesday) by Minster for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar and his colleagues, Ministers of State Michael Ring and Alan Kelly.
The dual package is good news for both Irish holidaymakers and tourism businesses:
· The 2011 Discover Ireland promotional campaign will be the biggest ever with €1 million allocated;
· A 50% discount on online rail tickets for Saturday travel and some Sunday services to promote weekend away-breaks from anywhere in Ireland;
· A new Discover Ireland smart phone ‘app’ which uses your current location to recommend what to do and where to stay, and gives details of special offers;
· A €20 Day Return fare from Dublin to anywhere in the Republic of Ireland by rail on Saturdays (€10 for children, €50 for a family of two adults and up to four children);
· A re-vamped Fáilte Ireland website with more video and an enhanced search facility, and a promotional campaign on social media;
· And senior citizens from overseas will be able to travel anywhere within the Iarnród Éireann network for a maximum fare of €26 return, being administered by Fáilte Ireland.
Launching the package, Minister Varadkar said it was further proof of the Government’s commitment to developing the tourism industry, and shows how the combined Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport is already having an impact: ‘Queen Elizabeth II and President Barack Obama have discovered Ireland for themselves. Now we’re urging everyone who lives in Ireland to follow in their footsteps and re-discover their country. Tourism is key to our economic recovery. Domestic tourism in particular generates more than €1.3 billion annually, and Irish tourists account for two thirds of all hotel bed nights in this country. So it makes perfect sense to build on this base’.
"I’m especially pleased to launch such a strong package of measures for domestic tourism. The Discover Ireland Summer 2011 campaign goes hand in glove with Irish Rail’s offer of up to 50% discounts for weekend travel. I look forward to an ongoing positive commitment from Irish Rail to tourism. And thanks to the government’s Jobs Initiative, tourism businesses should be able to offer even better value for money this year."
Minister of State for Tourism & Sport Michael Ring said: ‘This year I am encouraging everyone to consider holidaying at home. Fáilte Ireland is making it easier than ever to find out what to do, and where to go. Their website has been updated, and more than €1 million will be invested in the ‘Discover Ireland’ summer campaign. Recent research shows a 33% increase in Irish people planning to take their main family holiday in Ireland this year, so we are hoping that the 2011 season will see vigorous growth. Irish Rail and Fáilte Ireland will also continue working closely together to promote rail breaks all summer long within the Discover Ireland programme’.
Minister for Public Transport & Commuter Policy Alan Kelly is particularly delighted to be supporting the package as he established the first ever Discover Ireland website during his time with Fáilte Ireland: ‘I am honoured to be supporting this as a Minister in the Department, considering I was there when Discover Ireland was first launched’.
"This package should encourage people out of their cars and out to the countryside. Rail is an excellent way of getting around the country and this would encourage activity tourism which has great potential in Ireland. I would also hope that people might use this over the GAA season, combining their holidays with matches."
Fáilte Ireland CEO Shaun Quinn emphasised that the agency is committed to pursuing every possible opportunity to maximise tourism revenues and growth: ‘Accounting for seven out of ten hotel beds and half of all leisure trips, home holidays have never been so important to tourism. Our Discover Ireland Summer 2011 campaign is designed to ensure that those who want fun and value for all the family choose Ireland rather than abroad. Research shows that 33% more Irish people are planning to take their main holiday at home in Ireland this year. Our campaign is aimed towards making that decision more likely.
"Word of mouse and word of mouth will drive people’s decisions and, accordingly, we have significantly ramped up our website and social media capability. With our new iPhone app, for example, holiday makers will have a tourism office in their pocket wherever they go and the revamped Discoverireland.ie website has never been so easy to use. Fáilte Ireland also welcomes today’s agreement from Iarnród Éireann to provide weekend deals to boost the holiday market. Initiatives such as this, combined with our greatest marketing push yet, will ensure that the tourism industry gets back on track in 2011 and that Irish consumers enjoy more value and choices than ever before."
Also speaking at the launch, CEO of Irish Rail Dick Fearn said: ‘We are delighted to offer these value fares to customers travelling with Iarnród Éireann this summer. We look forward to welcoming new customers on board, and by providing strong value - along with our other online promotions - give a boost to the home market looking for value breaks in Ireland’.