REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MCALEESE AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF TOURISM IRELAND OFFICE STORE KONHENSGADE
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MCALEESE AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF TOURISM IRELAND OFFICE STORE KONHENSGADE, COPENHAGEN
God aftermiddag
Good afternoon.
Mine danmer og herrer, jeg er meget glad for at være her i København i dag.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am very glad to be here in Copenhagen today.
I would like to thank Niall Gibbons, Steven Roberts and their colleagues in Tourism Ireland for inviting me here today and to congratulate them on the opening of their new office. It’s a little bit different from the offices opened by the Viking raiders when they first visited Dublin in the 9th century, just as Danish visitors to Ireland are more likely to arrive through the excellent new passenger facilities at Dublin Airport instead of Viking ship though the Sea Stallion of Glendalough, or as you may know her better, Havhingsten fra Glendalough, did her best to reestablish that traditional route.
However tourists arrive in Ireland – and thankfully they come from around the world in their millions – one thing is certain tourism is an utterly vital industry for Ireland. The tourism and hospitality sector is a major economic force with a major contribution to make to Ireland’s economic renewal. The global economic downturn has hit the global tourism sector but not alone have Ireland’s key assets such as our renowned welcome and our stunning scenery remained unchanged, our costs have come down and our competitiveness has improved, so that the tourism industry’s legendary resilience is set to prove once again its ability in the past to bounce back faster than other sectors after a downturn.
With this in mind, Tourism Ireland is working hard to promote Ireland here in Denmark and the Nordic region, and indeed across the globe for we have a wonderful product to offer. For the last two years running, Dublin has been voted "Europe's Friendliest City" and it should be a home from home for the Viking heritage it shares with many of our other leading cities. In fact our language, our place names and our archeological heritage throughout Ireland are full of Viking influence. So there is the ancient to be enjoyed and there is the new, for Ireland has a great mix of castles, museums and ancient sites, and some of the best tourism accommodation, visitor attractions, restaurants, amenities and modern facilities anywhere in Europe. Our feast of festivals and cultural and sporting events are revelled in each year by armies of tourists who love the fun, friendships, the music and dance, the craic and the conversations along with the joy in life which is part of the Irish charism. And for those who love golf, walking, fishing and cycling, there is no end of terrific options and experiences.
Alongside our famous historic sites we have new developments which are set to become just as well known – our new Convention Centre in Dublin opened last month and it is a truly world-class conference venue in a beautiful location right in the heart of our capital city. Soon we will have brand new passenger facilities to welcome tourists and business visitors at Dublin Airport and our excellent new road systems help visitors get to our towns and cities and out into the heart of our beautiful countryside. We look forward to seeing the benefit of this new office and the work of Tourism Ireland in Denmark as we welcome many more of our Danish neighbours and friends to Ireland’s shores and send them home with a set of good memories to share and to encourage others to copy.
The traditional Irish welcome is céad míle fáilte, one hundred thousand welcomes. It was a little tentative when offered to the 9th Century Vikings though that may have had something to do with the rather menacing luggage they had packed. Today the céad míle fáilte is sincere. Please try it and enjoy it.
Mange tak.
Many thanks.