Just two weeks after the official state visit to Ireland by Queen Elizabeth, the first visit by an English reigning monarch to Ireland since 1911, there has been a huge increase in the online searches of British people interested in visiting Ireland.

The very warm welcome afforded to the British Head of State has resonated with prospective British tourists who are interested themselves in visiting and experiencing the ’Céad Míle Fáilte’ for themselves!

As a result, hotels in Ireland, restaurateurs and tourism attractions are all looking for the ‘Moneygall’ effect, which will give them a boost in these challenging times. The measures by the new Irish coalition Government to boost tourism (including a reduction in VAT) are very welcome at this point in time, as is the news that Irish hotels now offer the very best value in Western Europe.

The historic visit by the Queen, coupled with the morale boosting whirlwind visit by President Obama just a few days later, has given tourism in Ireland the big rise in profile it has been searching for over the past few years. The harsh economic recession since 2007 resulted in a 30%+ drop in visits and revenues.

Industry experts have announced that there has been a big increase in online searches from Ireland’s main overseas markets as a reuslt of the state visits. In fact, there has been an increase of over 200% for some of the tourist locations that were visited by the Queen and President Obama.

Visits for Tipperary County (Rock Of Cashel) and Cork have nearly trebled and doubled respectively. County Kildare, the home of Irish racing has also experienced a huge surge in interested visitors, as a result of the Queen’s visit.

There has been a huge jump in online searches for County Offaly. Huge buses of visitors have continued to arrive into the small village where President Obama downed a celebratory Pint of Guinness!

What did you think of the recent state visits to Ireland? If you attended any of the welcoming concerts of the tourist attractions visited by our distinguished visitors please let us know.