Ireland has announced a €360 million travel investment. Not only is this going to improve the local transport infrastructure, but it’s also going to help the country to align with its growing profile as one of the top travel destinations in the world. The funding, which has been unveiled by Darragh O’Brien, is said to also add 200 kilometres of new walking and cycling routes. With 1,000 local projects earmarked and significant investment in the country’s appeal for international tourists, Ireland is quickly cementing itself as a premier destination.
Screen Tourism Helped to Put Ireland on the Map
One of the reasons why Ireland is quickly becoming one of the biggest travel destinations in the world is because of screen tourism. The global success of Game of Thrones helped to put a spotlight on the rugged coastlines and forests.
As Ireland was a top filming destination for the show, it quickly rose through the ranks, as people flocked to the area to see the iconic scenery for themselves. More recently, Vikings: Valhalla was filmed in County Wicklow, which has helped to spur on the momentum of the country, again, bolstering tourism.
What’s interesting is that Ireland’s cultural pull actually goes back way before these hit television shows. Irish folklore has always been a popular theme in the media, with books like The Táin Bó Cúailnge translation by Thomas Kinsella proving to be popular with worldwide audiences. In iGaming, you also have titles like Slingo Rainbow Riches, which put a spotlight on leprechauns, pots of gold, and other related symbolism that have a strong pop culture tie to the identity of Ireland. Titles like this showcase the immense cultural impact Ireland has had on the world, and at the same time, portray the rich symbolism the country is known for.
When you look at the modern TV shows filmed in Ireland, like Game of Thrones and Vikings: Valhalla, it’s evident that they simply amplified interest in Ireland, rather than creating it, as it was always there.
Ireland to Put a Focus on More Intimate Ways to Explore the Country
One big part of Ireland’s travel investment, according to the National Transport Authority, is to make more village-to-village walking routes, which will facilitate an increase in visitors. This move is to try to support sustainable tourism, as well as help more people to experience the lush scenery and sights as seen in TV shows and movies. It’s also hoped that this will reduce pressure on car travel while encouraging longer stays, with deeper regional exploration.
This is a bold move, but it’s set to pay off, as it will help to drive more traffic to local shops and businesses, while connecting cultural sites with landmarks and filming locations. Moves like this are also set to help Ireland to establish itself as being a worldwide destination that supports recreational retreats.
With traffic-free roads, safer cycleways and towns that you can simply walk between, the appeal of Ireland is set to explode, and when you take into account the fact that it’s already so popular, moves like this aren’t just strategic. They future-proof Ireland as being a premier destination that can’t be matched elsewhere.
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