Irish whiskey tourism has the potential to grow from 653,277 visitors every year up to 1.9 million visitors by 2025, according to the The Irish Whiskey Association at the Midlands/East Regional, Irish Whiskey Tourism Strategy launch last night (15 May), which took place the Tullamore D.E.W. Old Bonded Warehouse.
At the launch last night Patrick O’Donovan, Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, said, “I am very pleased on behalf of the Government to launch the Midlands/East Regional Irish Whiskey Association Tourism Strategy. We are fully supportive of the Irish Whiskey Tourism Strategy’s target to treble the number of Irish whiskey tourists visiting Ireland annually, to 1.9 million over the next 8 years. When achieved this will deliver €1.3 billion to rural and urban centres all over Ireland every year and create hundreds of jobs."
Currently there are currently sixteen working distilleries on the island of Ireland, with another 15 with planning permission.
Minister O'Donovan added, “There will soon be Irish whiskey distilleries operating in 20 counties around the country. With the Irish Whiskey Tourism Strategy I believe we have the opportunity to create a world-class tourism offering that encourages high-spending international tourists to spend time in distillery towns all around the island.”
Irish Whiskey Distilleries in the Midlands/East Regional alone are expected to attract in the region of 158,000 visitors.
Miriam Mooney, Head of the Irish Whiskey Association said “Irish distilleries are positioning themselves as key tourist attractions. Already Tullamore D.E.W. Old Bonded Warehouse and Kilbeggan Distillery are succeeding in attracting more than 100,000 visitors to the region every year.”
“We believe that when Slane Distillery and Boann Distillery open their visitor centres, the number of whiskey tourists travelling to the region may exceed the anticipated target of 158,000 visitors per annum judging by the performance of existing visitor centres in the region. This region will play an integral role in making Ireland the world’s number 1 whiskey tourism destination.” Mooney added.
© 2017 - Checkout Magazine by Donna Ahern
