The Football Tourism Craze in Ireland and the Economic Benefits of International Events
Ireland has a great many stories to tell about its Gaelic history and heritage, festivals and events, and geological attractions. But on a contemporary route, there is a parallel universe of Sport Tourism, notably Football tourism, that has been charming the Irish for decades.
Now they are getting bigger and better. A prime example would be the five-game Aer Lingus College Football Series in 2022, which drew thousands of foreign and Irish American football fans to Dublin. Such large-scale events are critical for the Irish tourist sector since they entice both foreign and domestic visitors.
But apart from domestic tourism, if you are looking to visit the next La Liga or Premier League, you are in for a treat to find the most exciting football tour packages going from Ireland to take you to a new country to pacify your love for great football.
The Passionate Sports Culture in Ireland And The Economic Makeup
Sports are strongly ingrained in Ireland's contemporary history and customs. Sports tourism is a niche but a rising subset of the multidisciplinary industry. While the country has a diverse range of sports that have been practised for generations, football tourism has a distinct place. Sports tourism in Ireland is justified by three core elements, which include the following:
Event-based Sports tourism, which involves travelling to a different country to attend sporting events like Football leagues and tournaments, such as Champions League or Europa League tour packages.
Activity-based Sports tourism, which means native Irish footballers and athletes travelling to other countries to play sports and participate in sporting events.
Nostalgia-based Sports tourism, which means visiting or venerating famous sports-related personalities, teams, venues, museums, and the like.
Fáilte Ireland has said unequivocally that international events such as Europa League or FA Cup travels may help extend the tourism season into "off-peak months." Yet there is a but: the brutal rivalry between competing governments for such high-value events.
Earlier, Wales adopted Scotland's method of building a targeted and balanced portfolio of events that capture large economic advantages while also delivering broader socio-cultural benefits over time. Ireland could achieve the same if it prioritised solid infrastructure, more in-house knowledge, and a more diverse national governing sports body.
Popular International Football Tour Packages That Fuel The Fever in Ireland
Tourism Ireland is targeting football fans converging on international football tour packages offered by premium tour operators like Celtic Horizons and their counterparts. Some of the most popular packages for international football include the following:
Last year, over 120,000 Irish football fans visited the UK to see Premier League matches and other football fixtures, spending roughly £25 million, making them the greatest inbound visitors to the UK of all international football tourists.
International football tourism is a multi-million-euro industry with enormous potential for nations that follow strategic global relations. High-profile sporting events, like the FA Cup, present an ideal opportunity for Tourism Ireland to build worldwide commercial links while also increasing inbound tourists to domestic sporting events.
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