Tourism Ireland says summer 2006 will see the highest ever level of direct air access to the Republic and Northern Ireland with a massive increase in capacity from key markets. Its research shows that operators have added 51,000 seats each week on flights from North America, Great Britain and continental Europe. Capacity on routes direct from the Middle East is also going up by 1,500 seats.

The Republic of Ireland’s Tourism Minister, John O'Donoghue , welcomed the overall increase in air capacity from all markets and Tourism Ireland's campaign to exploit the tourism possibilities that this presents. "I welcome, in particular, the increase in direct services provided by a variety of US airlines which represents a huge vote of confidence in the strength of the Irish tourism market,” he said.

“Additional transatlantic capacity this summer is largely the result of new and expanded services provided by Delta Airlines into Shannon and Dublin and Continental Airlines introducing a third daily service into Shannon and Dublin. These complement the services provided by Aer Lingus, American Airlines and US Airways and will be invaluable in helping to grow business from the North America market which has proved challenging in recent years, and which is currently under review by Tourism Ireland."

The minister also noted that ferry capacity from Great Britain will stand at almost a quarter of a million seats each week this summer and that sea access continued to be vitally important to tourism, particularly in terms of regional spread.

Tourism marketing is one sector of industry that operates jointly over the island of Ireland, comprising the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland which is part of the United Kingdom. Tourism Ireland works in partnership with Fáilte Ireland and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board in promoting Ireland overseas.

Tourism Ireland says the increased capacity by air and sea should enable it to meet its target of attracting 8.5 million visitors, including 7.1 million to the 26 counties of the Republic. The biggest rise in visitors is expected from Great Britain, an additional 11,900 seats which represents growth of 5 percent. Visitor numbers from Spain, Italy and France are expected to grow by about 16 percent for the second year. Direct air capacity from the United States is growing by 9 percent, a total of 2,500 additional seats each week. 

For the third consecutive year, there will be a sharp increase in direct, scheduled air capacity to and from Continental Europe, with Ryanair and Aer Lingus leading the way.

Tourism Ireland chief executive Paul O’Toole said that development of direct, convenient and competitive access services continued to be critical to achieve tourism growth and strategic targets. “Last year, we saw a 40 percent increase in direct air access from Continental Europe. This helped deliver almost 2 million visitors, a record increase of 16 percent from that market and we are predicting similar double digit growth again this year.”

He added that air capacity from continental Europe was now almost double that available in summer 2004.

The southwest of Ireland recently welcomed its the first leisure tourism group from China since Ireland was accorded Approved Destination Status (ADS) in 2004.

The trip, organized by tour operators Gullivers, included five nights in Ireland followed by three in London and is the first time the Kerry/Shannon regions have been included in an organized leisure group itinerary under the ADS scheme. The group consisted of twenty-one people of all ages, and included a family with a baby.