Business Tourism Conferences worth €700m to resurgent Irish economy

Business Tourism Conferences worth €700m to resurgent Irish economy Business Tourism Conferences worth €700m to resurgent Irish economy Image Source: iStockNew figures from Ireland’s  national tourism development authority estimate  that international  business tourism  was worth more than €700m to the resurgent Irish economy in 2016.The International Congresses and Conventions Association (ICCA) has underlined the  significance of business tourism to Ireland, ranking the country  26th of 133 countries for hosting conferences and conventions.“The estimates reinforce the importance this growing sector plays in creating employment, which is crucial to delivering economic growth in Ireland”.Fáilte Ireland’s  estimates, based on data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO), show  a 7 percent growth in business travel from overseas markets last year, and  a sector that supports approximately 21,000 jobs.Paul Kelly, the authority’s chief executive, told The Irish Times  that business and events were  â€œan incredibly important component” of Irish tourism, as generators of above-average yields, employment gr owth and  out-of-season visits.The general sectoral growth is reflected within Fáilte Ireland. HospitalityIreland.com  reports that in  2016, the authority’s Business Tourism Events team directly influenced €198m of promotable business won for the State last year. This was an increase  of 10 percent on business the team helped secure for Ireland during 2015.Dublin has emerged as a particularly strong component of  Ireland’s business tourism offering, the capital having risen to 13th place in the ICCA’s global league of host cities for business conference events.Patrick O’Donovan TD, Minister for Tourism Sport, welcomed the latest figures, which, he said, “reinforce the importance this growing sector plays in creating employment, which is crucial to delivering economic growth in Ireland”.Meanwhile, Fáilte Ireland’s work continues. Last week, it  hosted its annual ‘Meet Dublin in London’ event (with an extra dimension this year, given the increase in  companies seeking to relocate from post-Brexit Britain).The meeting saw more than 300 buyers from the British meetings events sector network with key Irish hoteliers and conference organisers.  There is estimated potential business worth of €52m for the conferences sector in Dublin alone.And  HospitalityIreland.com  repoirted that  Fáilte Ireland hosted four North American Association Conference ambassadors in Dublin. The ambassadors  represented more than 5,500 delegates, with a combined value of €9m in potential new business for Ireland up to 2025.