Whiskey tourism set to bring thousands of visitors
THE Irish Whiskey Association’s Midlands/East Regional Irish Whiskey Tourism Strategy was launched by Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan on Monday evening at the Tullamore DEW Old Bonded Warehouse.
Minister O’Donovan said: “I am very pleased on behalf of the Government to launch the Midlands/East Regional Irish Whiskey Association Tourism Strategy. We are fully supportive of the Irish Whiskey Tourism Strategy’s target to treble the number of Irish whiskey tourists visiting Ireland annually, to 1.9 million over the next eight years. When achieved this will deliver €1.3 billion to rural and urban centres all over Ireland every year and create hundreds of jobs.
“There will soon be Irish whiskey distilleries operating in 20 counties around the country. With the Irish Whiskey Tourism Strategy I believe we have the opportunity to create a world-class tourism offering that encourages high-spending international tourists to spend time in distillery towns all around the island.”
The Irish whiskey revolution is gathering pace in Ireland’s Midlands and East. Until recently there were just two distilleries in the region. Now there are four and soon there will be six operating across counties Louth, Meath, Offaly and Westmeath.
Miriam Mooney, Head of the Irish Whiskey Association said: “Irish distilleries are positioning themselves as key tourist attractions. Already Tullamore D.E.W. Old Bonded Warehouse and Kilbeggan Distillery are succeeding in attracting more than 100,000 visitors to the region every year.”
“We believe that when Slane Distillery and Boann Distillery open their visitor centres, the number of whiskey tourists travelling to the region may exceed the anticipated target of 158,000 visitors per annum judging by the performance of existing visitor centres in the region. This region will play an integral role in making Ireland the world’s number 1 whiskey tourism destination.”
The massive growth in Irish Whiskey and Irish Whiskey Tourism means that distilleries in Meath and the Midlands/East will soon support 286 jobs directly in the region and many more jobs will be created in the hospitality sector as a result.
“With collaboration of local communities and national and local government support, Irish whiskey tourism has the potential to grow from 653,277 visitors every year up to 1.9 million visitors by 2025, spending an estimated €1.3 billion every year and Meath’s rich whiskey making culture plays an integral role in making this potential a reality.”