This year the Irish seem to have been working overtime in trying to persuade us to visit them. Not only has the government lowered the APD duty and introduced a lower VAT rate for tourism related businesses, Tourism Ireland has launched an innovative competition on Twitter and Facebook.
Sam and Nick Brown’s Roadtrip began last Friday with them flying from Bristol to Belfast and starting their holiday proper at the Giant’s Causeway in County Antrim. The idea behind the journey is that Britons suggest places that the couple might go to as they journey across Ireland. Suggestions made will go into a draw to win a group of 4 people to Ireland.
So far in their three days they have gone across Northern Ireland and into Sligo then down to Westport. Today they’ll be horse riding on a beach. From the suggestions made by the rest of us, a poll takes place to determine what they will do on the next day. The voting choice for Tuesday is a medieval banquet watching the wildlife or surfing. You vote and they do it. If you want to follow them click here. If you want to suggest ideas try clicking here for Facebook. and here for Twitter.
But two other events might help tourism as well. The visit by the Queen last week generated huge amounts of coverage as will Mr Obama’s visit this week. That he has Irish ancestry might surprise some but tracing ancestors is a big tourism business so the people must be rubbing their hands with glee about how much free publicity –all of it good – that they have had lately.
In the long term though the 5% saving on accommodation rates will probably do more to stimulate us to visit along with the fact that APD will only be €3 instead of €10 before March this year.

image of Nick & Sam meeting Mike Molloy courtesy of Discover Ireland.