Ireland eyes US travelers for 2011 tourism growth

Now that the US market is coming out of the effects of global downturn, an Irish tourism agency targets the US travelers to market the island of Ireland overseas as a holiday destination, the agency said in a statement.

Tourism Ireland, a tourism marketing agency funded by the Irish Government, is planning to roll out a marketing campaign on December 26, to attract visitors from US in 2011. According to the agency, Ireland ranks at number five on Americans’ “wish list” of places to visit in 2011.

Ireland enjoys a great level of awareness and a very positive image as a desirable holiday destination in the United States and is on nearly everyone’s ‘wish list’. The most urgent task for Tourism Ireland is to persuade Americans who had put their travel plans on hold or who intend visiting Ireland some day, to come in 2011,” Niall Gibbons, chief executive of Tourism Ireland, said in a statement.

The marketing campaign will feature radio ads, advertisements on websites, short movies showing holiday funs in Ireland and will target at Diasporas, golf tourism and business holiday among others, the agency said.

Researches have revealed that there is an increase in travel interest in US. Tourism Ireland believes all-important US market will return to growth in 2011, and so it’s a great opportunity for Ireland.

A couple of factors such as increased air access and a more favorable exchange rate will contribute positively in attracting US travelers to Ireland in 2011, Tourism Ireland said.