Most overseas visitors say they would recommend a holiday in Ireland to friends and family, a visitor attitudes survey revealed today.
The Fáilte Ireland survey of 5,700 overseas holidaymakers last year found that 98 per cent would recommend a visit to the country with over 80 per cent saying they would do so unreservedly.
Key ingredients for a satisfactory holiday varies amongst the different nationalities with the suitability for touring important to North Americans while value for money ranked high on the agenda of British holidaymakers. Mainland Europeans said the range of natural attractions and the unspoilt environment were important.
Beautiful scenery (89 per cent), friendly and hospitable people (87 per cent) unspoilt environment (79 per cent) were the main reasons for the high levels of satisfaction.
One in five of the respondents said they would come back next year with a further 28 per cent saying they are likely to return in the next few years.
The survey also found that two in every three (67 per cent) visitors used the internet to plan their holiday.
CEO of Fáilte Ireland Shaun Quinn said the results were extremely encouraging.
He said: “The consistency across all nationalities of our welcome and our environment as key factors for satisfaction is striking.”
“We are renowned as a green country and it makes good business sense that we maintain this unique selling point”