President McAleese:President Mary McAleese kicked off a tour of Japan and South Korea yesterday with a series of speeches to business executives, students and media organisations.
Accompanied by Minister of State for Education Síle de Valera and representatives of Tourism Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Bord Bia and the Irish Export Association, the President said she had chosen to visit Japan for St Patrick's Day celebrations because of the importance to Ireland in the bilateral relationship. We are a small island but we have a lot to offer, she told a tourism promotion event in the Okura Hotel in Tokyo.
A record 30,000 Japanese tourists visited Ireland last year and the figure is expected to grow in 2005, swollen by rising numbers of students and retirees.
Mrs McAleese said she hoped "many more will come",reminding her audience that visitors this year include Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, who will stay at Áras an Uachtaráin in May.
She later told a meeting of business leaders that her presence was "evidence of our commitment to support and develop our mutual interests with Japan and create greater awareness of the potential for Ireland as your business". Mrs McAleese will meet Emperor Akihito at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo today and celebrate St Patrick's Day at a party with the Irish community in Tokyo on Thursday evening.