Why Ireland? is the heading to a section of a Bord Failte publication which tells us that Queen Victoria prompted her subjects to visit Ireland. You wouldn't think of her as a tourist, but she was so much impressed by the Lakes of Killarney as seen from the Lady's View that she is credited with sending thousands of her subjects to Kerry in her wake. A later reason for visitors to come here is listed as the shortage of good food in Britain after the 1939-45 war. True, we had rationing here also, but not as severe as in England. And in the Dolphin and other cheerful eating places there were still fine steaks, to quote just one item. Tourists of today include many who feel the ethnic pull. They are descendants of earlier emigrations who want to see the village from which their people sailed to America or Australia. More recent emigrants also return, and as Bord Failte puts it, while here they dine out, buy Irish goods, use transport services - they are tourists, too. The principal sources of the tourists on holiday are the UK, Europe and North America. And, says the script, they are "attracted by our unspoilt scenery, the relaxed pace of life and the natural welcoming warmth of the Irish people." Bord Failte concedes that since the advent of the Celtic Tiger "the unique attractions of Ireland are under some pressure. Industry and new infrastructures are being developed in more scenic areas, the pace of life has quickened and the industry (tourist) is experiencing some recruitment problems.
Needless to say, attractions such as historic houses, places connected with cultural or historical monuments are attractive to many visitors. Ten million fee-paying visitors a year including gardens and nature parks. Then the specialists - anglers, golfers, horse-lovers. Even people who come for business meetings, conferences, conventions are tourists, of course - valuable; staying in hotels, dining in restaurants, buying goods and often taking tours when business is over. You may think of a tourist as, say, a visitor from central Europe, standing on a cliff-top on Aran or the Cliffs of Moher sniffing the invigorating Atlantic breezes and looking out to Hy Brasil or Ultima Thule. A rarity maybe. (Goethe wrote a poem about a King in Thule.)
The French have a fine country of their own, including a very long sea-line, but Bord Failte tells us they like to tour here, "congregating in the West, South-West, Shannon (and Dublin), their favourite activities being visiting historical and cultural places, gardens and hiking and biking. All this from The Failte Business, The Role of Tourism in Economic Growth: 2000.