Wild Atlantic Way tourism worth €3bn a year, report finds

Tourism is worth €3 billion per year on the Wild Atlantic Way, according to a new report published to mark the 10th anniversary of the travel brand.

The 2,600km route along the west coast of Ireland, from Kinsale in Co Cork to the Inishowen Peninsula in Donegal, has contributed to the creation of an additional 35,000 jobs, according to Fáilte Ireland.

Tourism now supports 121,000 jobs across the western region, the report finds.

The Wild Atlantic Way was first launched to the tourism industry in 2014 at Meitheal, the sector's largest trade event on the island.

A big day for tourism today as we mark 10 years of the Wild Atlantic Way at #Meitheal2024, Ireland’s most important tourism trade event.

Since we launched the brand at Meitheal 2014, the @wildatlanticway has become a globally recognised tourism brand and has provided an… pic.twitter.com/BR9E5jrFyy

— Fáilte Ireland (@Failte_Ireland) April 11, 2024

Speaking at Meitheal this year, Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin said the success of the Wild Atlantic Way cements Ireland’s reputation as a "must-visit" tourism destination.

“For a small island, we have a huge amount to offer from world-class scenery, hospitality, activities, attractions, culture, heritage, and food. It is fantastic to see so many businesses at Meitheal this year to showcase the richness of our tourism offering to these international buyers and tour operators.”

Paul Kelly, chief executive of Fáilte Ireland, said the Wild Atlantic Way generates employment and revenue for businesses and communities from Malin Head to Kinsale.

"Tourism is now worth €3 billion per year to the region. This growth has contributed to the creation of an additional 35,000 jobs in local communities, with tourism now supporting 121,000 jobs across the region.

"Domestically, the Wild Atlantic Way is our most popular region with 51 per cent of all domestic tourism revenue being generated there.

"When we compare this internationally, based on the most recent data available, we see that inbound travel to Ireland grew by 45 per cent between 2013 and 2019, well above the Northern European average of 25 per cent. And the Wild Atlantic Way was a key contributor to this success with overseas visitor bednights in the region growing by 60 per cent across this period."