92% of Americans have positive experience in Ireland

SURVEY:IRISH-AMERICAN visitors to Ireland have an overwhelmingly positive experience, according to a new study.

Over 2,400 Americans took part in the Amarach/Irish Central online survey last month, the overwhelming majority being American-born.

Ireland’s attractiveness as a destination merited a 9.4 score out of 10. Of those who took part, 1,826 had visited Ireland and 92 per cent reported a positive experience. Four out of five rated Ireland better than other countries they have visited.

The things they found most attractive about Ireland were landscape and scenery (90 per cent); the people (82 per cent); and visiting friends and relatives (42 per cent). The range and variety of tourist attractions was only favoured by 36 per cent of visitors.

The biggest drawbacks were the cost of flights (90 per cent); the cost of living (81 per cent); driving on the left hand side of the road (42 per cent); and the weather (36 per cent).

Some 61 per cent said they had strong links with Ireland and 32 per cent said they had relatives here. Two-thirds logged on at least once a week to an Irish website and the most popular Irish-based website was Irishtimes.com.

The survey, though not statistically representative, shows the huge goodwill that there is towards Ireland from Irish-Americans, according to publisher and founder of the Irish Central website, Niall O’Dowd. “Those numbers are off the charts. It makes me realise what a treasure Ireland has in its diaspora in America,” he said.

Mr O’Dowd said he expected about 1,000 people to take part in the survey which was carried out last month. Instead, 2,400 did within four days. “We are finding they are ready and willing, and they have a very emotional connection with the country. They want a connection with Ireland. That can take many forms.

“Primarily they want to visit here. There is a huge opening for tourism, particularly in places that a traditional approach cannot reach, but a website can.”