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Tourism Minister Leo Varadkar today launched a major domestic tourism package including the €1 million Discover Ireland Summer 2011 promotion campaign and discounts of up to 50% on weekend rail travel.

Along with Ministers of State Michael Ring and Alan Kelly, the Minister launched a dual package which involves:

· 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...

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.

Read the full press release here.