Overseas visitors contributed more than €6 billion to the Republic of Ireland’s economy last year – a 13 percent increase compared to the same time frame in 2023.
Ireland’s tourism industry has demonstrated resilience and adaptability as it battles challenges such as reduced air access and changing visitor dynamics.
Gaming has played a key role in driving growth in the sector, with elements such as casinos and a burgeoning eSports ecosystem highlighting the diversity in Ireland.
Land-based casinos have benefited massively from the boom in popularity of
Traditional sports events have also become a driver of economic growth and hold immense potential for the future of the Irish tourism sector.
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Visitor Numbers Rise But Challenges Abound
Ireland attracted around 6.6 million visitors from overseas in 2024, a 6.7 percent year-on-year increase. The figures are impressive when compared to the Emerald Isle’s neighbours.
The United Kingdom registered a significant decline compared to the previous year, although this was partly due to a noteworthy shift towards high-value tourism.
One of the primary challenges facing Irish tourism is the frustrating airport capacity cap introduced at Dublin Airport. This reduces seat capacity to 96% of winter 2023 levels.
The chief executive of Tourism Ireland, Alice Mansergh, has admitted that it is an issue for the tourism sector, pointing out that the airport supports around 70% of air access to the island.
The organisation is working to secure partnerships with air and sea carriers to promote regional travel even if the cap poses a massive threat to the industry’s long-term health.
Sports Tourism Is A Game-Changer For The Irish Economy
Sports events have become a pillar of Ireland’s tourism strategy. The 2024 Aer Lingus Classic is a perfect example of this in action.
The college football clash between Georgia Tech and Florida State University attracted 47,988 fans to a sold-out Aviva Stadium, including 28,406 international visitors.
Over 25,000 people were from the United States, spending an average of seven nights and injecting their disposable income into the local economy.
Around five million viewers watched Georgia Tech defeat Florida State University live on ESPN in the US. Many of them will consider visiting Ireland in the future.
ESPN’s College GameDay also drew 1.6m viewers for its live broadcast from Dublin, further increasing Ireland’s visibility on the global stage.
The Broader Impact Of Sports Tourism In Ireland
Sports tourism in Ireland is not limited to American football. The Gaelic Games, rugby, football, golf, horse racing and eSports also help to attract visitors to Ireland.
The Irish tourism sector has benefited from the country hosting tournaments such as the Six Nations Rugby Championship, Ryder Cup and UEFA events.
Sports tourism has a…