We live in a land stereotypically known by many as the land of leprechauns, shamrocks and good beer,
We’ll take that, but we know that we have much more to offer, as do our visitors, including the 1.83m Americans and Canadians who made the trip over the Atlantic this year.
2017 will be the fifth record year in a row for visitor numbers to Ireland from North America, delivering revenue of €1.67bn.
With the New Year just around the corner, Tourism Ireland have kicked off its promotional drive in the all-important US market for the year ahead with a week-long TV campaign.
A perfect representative of our little green isle, the new TV advert ‘Welcome to Ireland’ features our breathtaking scenery, friendly atmosphere, warm people and craic agus ceoil in the local.
Highlighting some of our most well-known landmarks, the advert features the Cliffs of Moher, the Giant’s Causeway and the Rock of Cashel.
Airing on three major networks, NBC, CBS and ABC from St Stephen’s Day through to New Year’s Eve, the ad will be seen by millions of potential holidaymakers for Ireland.
It will air around premium entertainment programmes with large audiences over the Christmas and New Year’s period such as Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Tonight Show, Blue Bloods, The Late Late Show with James Corden and Kennedy Center Honors.
At a time of key vacation planning for Americans, the campaign marks the start of another busy promotional drive for Tourism Ireland in the United States.
Niall Gibbons, Tourism Ireland’s CEO, said: "Tourism Ireland has undertaken an extensive and very targeted programme of promotions right throughout 2017, building awareness of the island of Ireland as a premier vacation destination.
“Looking to 2018, access developments augur well for continued growth from the United States, with new Aer Lingus flights to Dublin from Seattle and Philadelphia.
"Our ‘Jump into Ireland’ sales blitz next year will take in 15 cities across the US and Canada. We look forward to building on this year’s success in 2018 and beyond.”