An extra one million visitors will travel to Ireland from the United States if restrictions on air travel are lifted, the head of the Irish Hotels' Federation predicted yesterday.
The number of US visitors could double to two million within seven years, generating an extra €1 billion for the Irish economy, if the Open Skies agreement with the US is ratified later this month, IHF chief executive John Power said.
He told 400 delegates attending the federation's 69th annual conference in Cavan that the agreement between the EU and US would, if ratified, open the way to a substantial increase in direct air routes between the US and Ireland. Research had already indicated a huge level of interest among Americans living in California and along the west coast in visiting Ireland, he said.
Mr Power pointed out that American holidaymakers spend more time and more money in Ireland than any other nationality, spending on average €800 in the State, compared to less than €500 for all other overseas visitors. And he pointed out that the number of EU visitors to Ireland had doubled to 1.1 million in five years thanks to improved access.
"There is a very real possibility that we can double the numbers travelling from the US with this new agreement," said Mr Power.
Current regulations mean that non-US airlines can only travel to Ireland from four destinations in the US.
IHF president Annette Devine called for a dedicated marketing fund of €10 million per annum for the Shannon region over the next five years to assist in the transition period following ratification of the Open Skies agreement.
She said Shannon airport would face new challenges to sustain and increase direct transatlantic air traffic in the future. For Shannon to become an internationally successful airport, it needed ring-fenced marketing funds as well as improved infrastructure on all main routes into the region, said Ms Devine.
