Ireland is open for business once again. That’s the message coming from every corner of the country and in particular from the business tourism industry, which is beginning to show tangible signs of a real recovery.
After almost two decades of rapid growth, Ireland’s economy severely stalled in 2008, experiencing an economic downturn never before seen in the history of the state.
It was a downturn that hit the tourism industry early and hard but the country has now used the recession to dramatically improve its competitiveness for those wishing to do business in Ireland.
"The Irish people have just got on with it’ said Nicola McGrane, Chairperson of AIPCO (Association of Irish Professional Conference Organisers) "the blame culture never really took hold here – we accepted our roles in the crisis and began to dig ourselves out of it."
"It is the massive losses in the banking sector that has meant the country needed help, but other industries around the country are still competing with the world at the highest levels, including the tourism industry."
"With a new government, a gradually improving economy and a young, highly-educated workforce, Ireland is well placed to work itself out of the economic recession, and one of the primary factors in this recovery is the new found ability to compete on price, not just on quality."
Boasting the cheapest hotel rates in Western Europe, a new integrated public transport system, easy accessibility from all over the world and a world class convention centre capable of hosting major international events, the Irish tourism industry is now on the cusp of another economic revival. As a result of these changes Ireland was recently named one of the top ten places to do business by the World Bank.
"Ironically the recession has actually helped the tourism industry in many ways. While visitor numbers are down we fully believe that this is only temporary and they will steadily rise back to previous levels" said Jean Evans, Vice Chair of AIPCO "that the recession has meant a large drop in the cost of doing business in Ireland is now clear for all to see. One of the primary complaints for visitors coming to Ireland over recent years was the cost; this is no longer such a factor."
While the recession has caused a drop in price, the Irish tourism industry has implemented several initiatives over the last two years to turn this short-term gain into a long-term strategy. Through structural policy decisions, improved knowledge sharing, new infrastructure and a greater focus on the tourism industry as a whole rather than on individual enterprises, "Team Ireland’ is ready and waiting for your business.
Through the Failte Ireland Conference Ambassador Programme, the country is encouraging its leading academics and industry insiders to actively engage with their international associations in bringing their meetings to Ireland. A highly successful initiative, Fáilte Ireland’s idea has now spread to the conference industry as a whole.
"We no longer just respond to inquiries, we go out and get them’ said Keith McCormack, Head of Business Tourism, Failte Ireland "through the ambassador programme, Failte Ireland and the PCOs lend their expertise and support to people not familiar with the processes needed to bring a major meeting to this country. The programme gives them confidence, a huge personal and professional boost while also opening doors for Ireland across the world."
These new initiatives and competitive advantages are now being integrated into the traditional selling points for Ireland; the people (first placed in Lonely Planet list of World’s friendliest countries), the landscape (walks voted best in the world by National Geographic) and the social life (nightlife voted in the top ten in the world by Trip Advisors).
