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11% rise in German visitors to Ireland this year

Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar is building on the growing number of German visitors to Ireland by visiting Frankfurt today (Friday) to promote Ireland as a tourism destination for German holidaymakers.

Minister Varadkar said: ‘The German public has always had a special affection for Ireland, and we need to build on that relationship. The number of Germans visiting Ireland so far this year is up by 11%. My Department and Tourism Ireland are both working hard to ensure that we do even better’.

During the short visit Minister Varadkar is meeting with key industry figures, including German tour operators and air carriers with direct services to Ireland. He is also promoting Ireland in local media, and being briefed by Tourism Ireland on marketing efforts in Germany.

Germany is a key market for Ireland, with almost 380,000 German tourists visiting Ireland in 2010. The latest CSO figures showed a rise of 11% in the number of Germans visiting Ireland for the first quarter of the year.

Minister Varadkar TD recently undertook a promotional visit to Great Britain, supporting tourism marketing by personally meeting key industry figures and local media. Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring TD has undertaken similar promotional visits to New York.

Minister Varadkar is using these visits to highlight the Government’s commitment to tourism as a tool for economic recovery, while urging the industry to respond to crucial Government measures such as the 4.5% cut in the VAT rate for hospitality products.