Fáilte Ireland welcomes Lonely Planet friendly accolade
03/03/2010
Tony Wheeler, Lonely Planet
Fáilte Ireland today welcomed the Lonely Planet’s placing of Ireland in the world’s top-10 friendliest countries. Part of the Lonely Planet’s 1,000 Ultimate Experiences, the list celebrates countries where a welcome is always warm.
The accolade chimes with new Fáilte Ireland research on visitor experiences. Fáilte Ireland’s 2009 Visitor Attitudes Survey, conducted among overseas holiday visitors and currently being completed, shows that the Irish people are the most significant advantage that distinguishes Ireland from other holiday destinations.
In 2009, nine in 10 holidaymakers stated that meeting "friendly, hospitable people" was an important factor in choosing Ireland as their holiday destination, with half saying that it was a "very important" factor.
These expectations were clearly met during their holiday in Ireland, with 94% saying that they were satisfied with their experience of the friendliness and hospitality of the people while in Ireland, and two-thirds said that they were "very satisfied" with this aspect of their holiday.
Commenting today, Fáilte Ireland CEO, Shaun Quinn, said:
“The Lonely Planet’s recognition is welcome but not surprising. Over the years, our research has constantly found that the warmth and friendliness of our people, along with our green landscape and scenery, are the biggest draws for overseas visitors. Despite some fears in recent years of a frostier ‘fáilte’, it is reassuring to see that we remain a friendly destination and renowned for our welcome.”
The lonely Planet’s top-10 friendly countries can be viewed at: Lonely Planet Top Ten
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Louise Tolerton
Press Officer - 086 608-6578/01 884-7135
Note for editor:
Fáilte Ireland, the national tourism development authority, was established in 2003 to guide and promote tourism as a leading indigenous component of the Irish economy.
The tourism and hospitality industry employs an estimated 200,000 people and generates more than €6 billion in revenue a year.
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