Last year, Dublin’s tourism increased its economy by €100 million. The last time anything like this happened in the Irish city was back in 2008. This year they expect the same to reoccur thus increasing its total tourist revenue to €4.1 billion. Numbers like these imply that the world economy must be prospering.

Optimism in the tourism industry has returned to levels not seen since the height of the boom in 2007, according to Fáilte Ireland’s annual tourism industry review.

Revenue from overseas tourists increased by €100 million to €4 billion last year, the first time since 2008 there has been such an increase.

Further growth is expected this year, with The Gathering giving a boost to bookings, which are already up on last year, especially from the US. Some 84 per cent of the tourism business surveyed by Fáilte Ireland is expecting a better performance in 2013 than last year.

The sector is hopeful that The Gathering will make a difference to visitor numbers, which it hopes will increase by 325,000, or 5 per cent.

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