Ireland In Summer

University Tourism grows – 04/03/2009

Bucking the trend in the hospitality sector the Irish universities continue to grow their annual business to €23M.

At a function in the Westin Hotel, Dublin, on 22 January, the universities’ conference group, MUSA, presented awards to Ms Pia Greevy of ATC Language & Travel and Mr Jim O’Callaghan, former Conference Officer with Fáilte Ireland. The MUSA Awards are made in recognition of significant contributions to the university tourism sector.

Describing Ms Greevy and Mr O’Callaghan as “friends of the Irish universities”, MUSA President, Dr Bill Tinley, praised their contribution, adding that language schools and academic conferences formed the backbone of the universities’ summer business.  Dr Tinley said summer tourism in the seven universities continued to grow, with turnover last year of €23M and visitor bed nights of 370,000, of which 48% was accounted for by international visitors.

In the past ten years ATC Language & Travel has brought 35,000 students to Ireland from Italy, Spain and other parts of Europe.  Dr Tinley said that apart from the considerable economic boost each summer there were potential longer term benefits for Ireland.  “The adults who were here twenty years ago as students might now be encouraged to relive their Irish experience, whether as leisure tourists or business visitors.”

Dr Tinley added that the good work fostered by Mr O’Callaghan in support of academic conferencing had helped to put the Irish universities on the business tourism map.  He said the future looks promising in that area and expressed the hope that continued support would see the sector develop its potential more fully.