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The Minister for European Affairs, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, Dara Murphy TD, has praised the success of Tourism Ireland in boosting visitor numbers from the Nordic countries, with tourist numbers from the region having grown by 42% between 2010 and 2015. Last year alone, visitor numbers from the five Nordic countries – Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden - rose by 17%, in what was a record year overall for Irish tourism with 8 million visitors to these shores.
Speaking in Copenhagen, where he is on a bilateral visit to Denmark, Minister Murphy said:
“Sustained growth in tourism from the European market has made a major contribution to the success of Irish tourism in recent years, leading to record results last year with 8 million visitors to Ireland. Tourism from the Nordic countries was up 17% last year and grew by 42% between 2010 and 2015, which is a testament to the success of Tourism Ireland in marketing the Irish brand in this corner of Europe and a phenomenal achievement.”
“The diversification of our tourism and trade markets is more important than ever in the wake of the UK’s decision to the leave the European Union. These figures from our Nordic neighbours show that we’re doing just that and reveal the strength of our ties with our Nordic neighbours. Beyond tourism and trade, it’s important that Ireland works closely with other smaller EU Member States like Denmark, Finland and Sweden, as well as with our non-EU Nordic neighbours Iceland and Norway, on issues of common interest.”
During his visit to Denmark Minister Murphy met with the Danish Minister for Business and Growth Mr Troels Lund Poulsen, the European Affairs Committee of the Danish Parliament, the Irish Professional Nordic Network and with Tourism Ireland’s Nordic team. The Minister’s visit to Denmark is his second to the region in recent weeks, having visited Sweden earlier this month.