Ireland has always been seen as the perfect weekend getaway for Londoners, but now the country could be set to see even greater interest. The Irish government is keen to boost tourism, and that has led to some incentives that could reduce travel costs for visitors.
On top of that, we could be witnessing a wider shift in which Londoners prefer to opt for multiple shorter trips each year rather than the traditional long holiday. This is where Ireland could shine as an option.
Londoners Clearly Enjoy Irish Themes and People
You only need to look at the types of entertainment Londoners enjoy to realise that a lot of people here feel an affinity towards Ireland. The country is heavily represented in the iGaming market, where you can find games such as the 12 Pots of Gold Drums Frenzy game, Land of Gold, and Ireland of Riches. These titles all include Irish themes and symbolism, with green colours and lucky icons on the reels.
Londoners love to watch Irish actors in action as well, with shows like Derry Girls and How to Get to Heaven from Belfast enjoying strong interest on Netflix. There are also countless Irish stars in the West End, with huge names like Brendan Gleeson, Chris O’Dowd, and Paul Mescal all having performed in theatres in the capital. There are various other Irish names rising through the ranks in the London theatre industry as well. There’s clearly a lot of evidence to show that Irish themes and people are popular among Londoners.
Ireland Putting Incentives in Place to Boost Travel
The Irish government has been trying to address a decline in tourism in recent years and has started to put some great incentives in place to try to encourage more travel to the country. One of the most recent developments has been the reduced VAT rate of nine per cent for tourism and hospitality, meaning that hotels, entertainment establishments, and various other businesses will be able to pass on savings to visitors.
It has also been announced with airlines agreeing that that the air travel tax will be abolished, in return, they will bring in additional passengers to the country. This could mean reduced tickets for London residents.
Many People Now Prefer Numerous Short Trips Over Longer Holidays
Ever since cheap flights to European cities from London’s airports have been abundant, people’s annual travel plans have gradually shifted. Around 40 per cent of UK travellers are now favouring multiple shorter holidays per year over the traditional fortnight-long getaways of old.
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Because Dublin is one of the closest links to London, it can market itself as a convenient option. Along with being a great location for weekend getaways, it’s also accessible as a place for day trips.
Thanks to the new measures designed to stimulate tourism in Ireland, the country could soon become a leading choice for people travelling on short holidays from London. Many Londoners already feel a connection to Ireland through entertainment and want to experience it first-hand.