North American visitor numbers to Ireland in 2006 returned to pre-9/11 figures, the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation (ITIC) said today.
The number of people from the subcontinent visiting Ireland was over one million - an increase of just over 10 per cent.
The increase reflected a strong performance for the tourist industry with European market showing the largest increase - 16 per cent to 2.2 million.
Britain remained by far the largest contributor of visitors with 3.8 million - a 6 per cent increase.
Britons and European in particular were responsible for the growth in the regions as a destination ahead of Dublin for the first time many years, the figures show.
The overall increase was 11 per cent or indicating the estimated 7.5 million overseas visitors.
ITIC chairwoman Catherine Reilly said hosting the Ryder Cup had contributed to "a memorable year for Irish tourism".
The domestic tourist market remained strong with over 60 per cent of hotel bed nights outside of the capital being generated by the Irish market worth around €1.3 billion
"When carrier receipts are added, the tourism industry is expected to have generated almost 6 billion in 2006", said Ms. Reilly
She warned that competitiveness was reliant on greater product innovation and development.
"We would like to see much greater investment in our publicly owned cultural and heritage attractions", says Ms. Reilly.
"Once we start to see investment in these areas then we can start to re-package them as well-defined and marketable holiday products.
She also said that with visitors in 2007 likely to reach close 8 million capacity at Dublin Airport remains a concern.
"With the current facility stretched to capacity, ITIC are urging stakeholders to expedite the process which will lead to the completion of the terminal, currently envisaged to be in 2009," she said.
The absence of a national conference centre was affecting tourism numbers she said but she welcomed the development of the new Lansdowne Road stadium, a new Abbey theatre and the redevelopment of the National Concert Hall.