Ireland's smoking ban helped it attract a record number of tourists last year but visitors still complained about the high cost of living, it emerged today.
Failte Ireland said 6.4 million tourists, a rise of 2.4 per cent on 2003, visited during 2004 and contributed €4.2 billion to the economy.
The all-Ireland tourism authority also found that nearly 80 per cent of overseas visitors were in favour of the smoking ban and 26 per cent said they would be more likely to holiday in Ireland as a result.
However the cost of living, bad roads and unpredictable weather still got on the nerves of foreign visitors.
Failte chief executive Mr Shaun Quinn said: "The cost of living remains one of the highest in Europe. French, German and, for the first time, US visitors, are commenting on it.
"With the weakening dollar and sterling, this poses an additional challenge to us in 2005."
However, Failte's annual review said it expects the number of domestic and overseas holidaymakers in Ireland to grow by 5 per cent in 2005.
Up to 10 per cent more Irish people spent their holidays in Ireland last year and added a further €1 billion in revenue.
But Failte is worried that more tourists were flocking to Dublin and the east coast compared to other parts of the country.
Failte Ireland chairman Ms Gillian Bowler said: "The continuing divergence in experience between the east and west of the country is of major concern.
"Tourism businesses' experience of 2004 depended on where they are and the sector in which they operate."
Ms Bowler said greater marketing and better infrastructure were needed to ensure tourism benefits all areas of the country
Research also showed that two thirds of visitors rate Ireland as easy to reach, despite being an island destination.
Business tourism in Ireland is expected to reach almost half a billion euros by 2007.
Last year's performance was boosted by a recovery in the North American market (up 7 per cent) and European markets like Italy and Spain (up 5 per cent and 18 per cent, respectively).
PA