Ireland has featured among the top five countries to visit in the influential Lonely Planet guide published today.
‘Stunning scenery’ and ‘cosmopolitan, contemporary and friendly Irish people’ are among the reasons why the guide recommends a visit in 2015.
Sport features prominently with surfing at Rossnowlagh highlighted as one of the activities that makes the country special, alongside the newly branded Wild Atlantic Way.
This ties in neatly to the fact that sporting activities are ranked first second and third of the most popular activities to undertake when visiting Dublin according to the user generated rankings on Trip Adviser.
Experience Gaelic Games in Glasnevin, The Awesome Walls Climbing Centre and the Croke Park Museum fill the top three spots of 283 listed activities that include the Book of Kells, Christchurch, Kilmainham Gaol and the Phoenix Park.
This is a real boost for the tourism sector which has benefitted greatly from the reaction in VAT from 23% to 9% on services and has turned that into a winner for the Department of Finance by raising more at the lower rate and passing on the saving in more competitive pricing.
Lithuania at number 3 and Serbia at number 7 are the only other European countries to make it in to the top 10, adding further to the potential benefit it will bring.
The Lonely Planet list in full:
- Singapore
- Namibia
- Lithuania
- Nicaragua
- Ireland
- Republic of Congo
- Serbia
- The Phillipines
- St Lucia
- Morocco
Join us on Wednesday, December 10th for our Sport for Business Round Table discussion on Sports Tourism – How to Build? Contact us today to request an invitation.
