Growth of Tourism in Ireland

The tourist industry ranks as an important source of income for Ireland. About 15 percent of the country's workforce is directly or indirectly employed in tourism. In 1991 about 3,500,000 long-staying tourists visited the country. Most of them came from Great Britain, followed by Northern Ireland and the United States. Many tourists are relatives or friends of the millions of Irish people who emigrated to other parts of the world. Increasing numbers of visitors are drawn by the relative lack of commercialization in Ireland, the low cost of touring, good highways, charming rural landscape, historical attractions, and generally uncrowded character.