Language students flock to Ireland

STUDY TOURISM:THE NUMBER of foreigners studying English in Ireland will surpass 100,000 this year generating over €300m in revenue.

Numbers are up 16 per cent in the first nine months of the year, according to Marketing English in Ireland, the group representing half of English language schools in Ireland.

There is likely to be a jump in revenue, as growth is coming mainly from the Asian market where students stay an average of 20 weeks while Europeans stay for four weeks. Though numbers increased just 3 per cent last year, from 93,000 to 96,000, revenue was up from €254m to €297m.

The importance of language tourism was underlined this month when Taoiseach Enda Kenny attended a seminar in Maynooth with 90 agents from overseas who work in the area.

Fionnán Nestor of Fáilte Ireland said Ireland had only begun to tap markets in Asia. Though substantial numbers have come from South Korea and Japan, he said China and Taiwan had huge growth potential. The easing of visa restrictions in Ireland and their tightening in the UK was also an advantage, he said.