Tourism Ireland campaign to attract rich tourists from Brazil and Russia

GENEVIEVE CARBERY

A STRATEGY to attract high-spending tourists from Brazil and Russia has been announced by Tourism Ireland. The move is part of the programme for Government to develop marketing campaigns in emerging long-haul markets. The initiative is helped by a change in the visa-waiver scheme last year which makes it easier for Russian tourists to visit Ireland.

The chief executive of Tourism Ireland, Niall Gibbons, said there were niche opportunities in Russia and Brazil where the potential was small in volume but high in value because of the type of visitors from these countries.

Spending by Russian and Brazilian tourists globally has increased by a fifth and a third respectively over the past year, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation.

Separately, Minister for Tourism Leo Varadkar has confirmed an allocation of €5 million for “The Gathering 2013”, a year-long programme of festivals, events and gatherings throughout the country, aimed at attracting foreign visitors.

Meanwhile, one of Ireland’s best-known hostels, Isaac’s, near Busarus in Dublin, which went into receivership last month, is to reopen tomorrow.

Isaac’s Hostel on Frenchman’s Lane, Isaac’s Hotel on Store Street and the nearby Jacob’s Inn on Talbot Place, were closed at the start of January when a receiver was appointed to the its management company, Dublin Tourist Hostel Ltd. Under a new management company, Drachen Ltd, appointed by the receiver BDO, Isaac’s Hostel and Jacob’s Inn will reopen, employing 30 people.

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