Recent statistics from the Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland show that brewery and distillery visitor centres benefit Ireland’s tourism.
The number of visitors to brewery and distillery visitor centres increased by 7.2% from 2017 to 2018, and ABFI said the number of visitors is expected to grow.
The Visitors
According to a statement, 2,590,215 million people visited the centres in 2017 and 2,778,500 people visited the centres in 2018. There are at least 24 visitor centres.
Almost 35% of visitors were from North America, and almost 13%, came from the UK. Irish citizens made up just over 7% of the total visitors, and Germany and France each made up about 5%.
Tourism
The Fáilte Ireland’s Food & Drinks Strategy 2018-2023 said visitor experiences are key to growing Irish tourism, and it will help them spend money in regional locations.
“Importantly, these visitor centres are located right across the country, from Donegal to Cork,” said Patricia Callan, director, ABFI.
“Many have become destinations in their own right in rural areas, as people come to see the story behind their favourite products, meaning the drinks industry is supporting the regional spread of tourism.”
“While tourists from abroad love visiting breweries and distilleries, they are also popular among domestic tourists, who often choose to visit one during a trip.”
© 2019 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Libby Seline. Click sign-up to subscribe to Checkout.
