Ireland's first tourist office in China was opened today.
Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment Micheál Martin opened Tourism Ireland's office in Shanghai.
The World Tourism Organisation (WTO) recognises that China will have the greatest outbound tourism market in the world by 2020. More than 5,000 Chinese visitors came to the island of Ireland in 2005.
"Tourism is a major economic sector in Ireland with over eight million visitors" said Mr Martin. "The Government is keenly aware of the potential of the Chinese tourism market.
"Each year more and more visitors come to the island of Ireland to have that unique experience and we look forward to welcoming more Chinese tourists in the future" he said.
Tourism Ireland has a website with translations of brochures in Mandarin and Cantonese.
Tourism Ireland hopes to attract 50,000 visitors per annum from China by 2009. Last year China granted Approved Destination Status for Ireland and the United Kingdom.