Fáilte Ireland, the national tourism authority, has today published their definitive list of Ireland’s top visitor attractions for 2013 with the Guinness Storehouse once more topping the bill.
The Storehouse welcomed 1,157,000 visitors in 2013 - an increase of 70,000 visitors on its 2012 performance. Amongst the nation’s fee-paying attractions, the iconic Dublin attraction was followed closely by Dublin Zoo with just over a million visitors and the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience which had a significant 10% boost in visitor numbers thanks to 960,000 paying visitors passing through.
While the National Gallery of Ireland continued to lead the ‘free attractions’ listing, there was a significant new entry to the top ten in that category last year with the Newbridge Silverware Museum of Style Icons entering the top ten listing at number five thanks to the interest of 350,000 visitors during 2013.
Overall, the combined top ten fee-paying attractions in 2013 recorded a 5% increase in visitors on the previous year’s top ten performance. The combined top ten free attractions experienced a 7% jump in visitors compared to the top ten performers in 2012.
Speaking today Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar said –
“It’s good to see visitor numbers growing at so many of our key attractions, and it’s further proof that Irish tourism is going from strength to strength. Visitors like to have a wide range of things to see and do, and Ireland has some fantastic free and paid attractions. That’s why the Government continues to invest in new attractions and in refreshing established ones.”
Commenting on the figures, Shaun Quinn CEO Fáilte Ireland said -
“Today’s research provides another positive piece of news for tourism as our visitor attractions are quite clearly experiencing the same growth that we are seeing right across the tourism sector.
“Attractions such as these are an integral part of what Ireland has to offer visitors. Recognising the importance of having a good variety of things to do and see, Fáilte Ireland has directed significant investment into the tourism sector over the last five years – with a total of €120m invested in almost 60 significant capital projects throughout the country. This year alone, we are investing €8m in capital infrastructure along the Wild Atlantic Way.
“Tourism is in a good place compared to five years ago but we can’t become complacent. In order to draw more visitors to our shores we need to ensure we are providing the right type of holiday experiences – particularly for our overseas markets and we in Fáilte Ireland will continue to play our part in developing and improving Ireland’s tourism offering.”
Top 10 Fee-Charging Attractions 2013
Name of Attraction County 2013 visitors
1. Guinness Storehouse Dublin 1,157,090
2. Dublin Zoo Dublin 1,026,611
3. Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience Clare 960,134
4. National Aquatic Centre Dublin 858,031
5. Book of Kells Dublin 588,723
6. Tayto Park Meath 435,000
7. St Patrick’s Cathedral Dublin 410,000
8. Fota Wildlife Park Cork 365,396
9. Blarney Castle Cork 365,000
10. Kilmainham Gaol Dublin 326,207
Top 10 Free Attractions 2013
Name of Attraction County 2013 Visitors
1. The National Gallery of Ireland Dublin 641,572
2. National Botanic Gardens Dublin 550,000
3. Farmleigh Dublin 435,476
4. National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology Dublin 404,230
5. Newbridge Silverware Kildare 350,000
6. Science Gallery at Trinity College Dublin 339,264
7. National Museum of Ireland - Natural History Dublin 284,323
8. The National Library of Ireland Dublin 260,152
9. National Museum of Ireland -
Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks Dublin 251,226
10. Chester Beatty Library Dublin 250,659
To view the full table of top fee-charging attractions
click here and for free attractions
click here. To compare with the previous year you can view the table of top fee-charging attractions in 2012
here and free attractions 2012
here .
Follow us on Twitter @Fáilte_Ireland
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Louise Tolerton - Press Officer
086 6086578/01 8847135
Catherine Whelan
087 6449572/01 8847181
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