Dublin Zoo has been named as the State’s most popular place to visit.
Numbers to the city centre zoo grew by almost 7 per cent to just over 960,000 in 2010 to take the top spot in the list of fee-paying attractions.
Figures released by Fáilte Ireland also showed the National Gallery of Ireland continued its
dominance as the favoured free attraction, recording more than 736,000 visitors last year.
Shaun Quinn, of Fáilte Ireland, said despite 2010 being the most difficult year in tourism in
decades the popularity of attractions remained quite high.
"It is clear from these figures that the drop in overseas figures was tempered somewhat by an increase in domestic visitors," he said.
"As more Irish people stayed at home in 2010, it is no surprise that family friendly attractions such as the Zoo and Fota Wildlife Park actually recorded significant increases."
After the zoo, the most popular fee paying attractions were the Guinness Storehouse, National Aquatic Centre, Cliffs of Moher and the Book of Kells.
The top free places to visit included the Botanic Gardens, Irish Museum of Modern Art,
Farmleigh and Holy Cross Abbey.
Fáilte Ireland said encouraging families to take their summer breaks in Ireland will be the
central message of its Home Holiday campaign for 2011.
Mr Quinn said: "The domestic market is an important part of Ireland's tourism industry,
accounting for two in three of all hotel bed nights and generating over €1.3 billion in
revenue for Ireland's tourism industry.
"Visitor attractions will play a vital part in encouraging more Irish people to take a break at
home this year and will feature significantly on our websites and in the brochures for our
biggest ever home holiday campaign."
PA