Tourism chances open up as China brings down barriers
IRELAND is gearing up for a new tourist boom — this time from China.
Tourism Ireland has predicted the country’s recognition as an approved destination for Chinese tour groups will reap massive dividends for the economy over the next decade.
The new designation was awarded by Chinese premier Wen Jiabiao on his state visit to Ireland last week.
Tourism Ireland has already produced brochures in Mandarin and Cantonese and is targeting mainland China and Hong Kong for promotions.
Irish Arts, Sport and Tourism Minister John O’Donoghue said: “Having now secured approved destination status it is up to Irish industry to work with our tourism agencies to exploit the potential of this vast market.”
China is seen as one of the key emerging markets for tourism with a population of more than 1billion people and a rapidly expanding economy.
Travel trade experts believe tapping into the market could reap huge dividends for the tourist market in Ireland.
One said: “China is a relatively undeveloped market at the moment. At one time it was rare for Chinese people to travel outside their own country in great numbers but that is now changing.
“When you look at the numbers who could be heading to Ireland now for holidays the benefit to the economy is absolutely vast.
“We are talking of millions upon millions of pounds.”
Tourism Ireland Chief Executive Paul O’Toole said China would be one of the top three outbound tourism markets in the world in less than 20 years.
He said: “With a population of over 1.3 billion people and a rapidly expanding economy China has the potential to exert greater influence over the development and marketing of tourism destinations worldwide over the next decade than perhaps any country on the globe.”
Key targets are to reach long-haul pleasure travellers with sufficient disposable incomes to travel to Ireland.
More than 16.5 million Chinese people travelled internationally in 2002 and Chinese visitors are the largest per capita shoppers of any source country — spending more than £3,000 each on average per visit to Europe.
Mr O’Donoghue was in Beijing last week to participate in an Ireland-China Cultural Festival aimed at promoting Ireland as a tourist destination.
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