Tourism Ireland is having a happy holiday this year, closing the books on the island's "best year ever" for tourism, north and south, with numbers up, and spending up even more.
The agency reports a rise of over half a million visitors to 11.2 million for the year; that's a bit under 5%, but the visitors spent more freely than the year before, pushing spending up by more than 10% to €6.1 billion.
But tourism authorities are concerned for the future; a rise in taxes that takes effect January 1 could hurt business, and the blockbuster tourism effects of this year's royal visit and travel based on Ireland's roles in Star Wars and Game of Thrones could wear off some.
In the meantime, Dublin Airport, which opened a new international transfer terminal this year, also set a record, handling more than 30 million passengers. The number is greater than the number of visitors because travelers are counted on the way in and the way out, and the airport has also seen a big growth in transit passengers, who land there only to change planes. Aer Lingus's continuing expansion in North America has helped fuel this.
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