Ireland offers the most contemporary of sophisticated facilities in a still traditional setting filled with culture and history, said Paul O’Toole, Chief Executive, Tourism Ireland, during a recent media lunch and promotion at the Aria Restaurant in Sydney to mark St Patrick’s Day and launch a new online campaign encouraging Australians to explore their Irish side.
Ireland has 5.5 million people yet this nation receives some 9 million visitors a year. “Aussies are a fantastic part of the business†with more than 120,000 Australians visiting the Emerald Isle in 2007, he said.
[Pictured right: Even if they don’t have Irish heritage most people would like to have a link with Ireland believes Paul O’Toole.]
Australia ranks as the 7th largest market for Ireland. The average length of stay is nine days with visits made throughout the year, he added.
About one third of Australians claim some form of Irish heritage. Our emphasis in 2008 will be directed to making it easier for them to trace their roots in Ireland, said Mr O’Toole.
Australians can now find out about their links with Ireland through ancestral lineage or just shared personality traits on the Go Green website.
The new website also has a range of travel offers to Ireland with partners Ethihad Airways and Creative Holidays, he added.
Some 64 ‘Irelands’ could fit into Australia so the country is easy to explore. Mr O’Toole noted that while Dublin and Kilarney are well known destinations intrepid Australians are even venturing to somewhat lesser known areas like the highly picturesque Northeast coastline which stretches from Belfast to the Giant’s Causeway.
Australians seem to find their way to places where they will only see the Irish, he said.
Exclusive Report by Thomas E. King, TravelMole’s Travel and Lifestyle Editor
