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Tour guide Min Lin Siew; Wu Qi, Sanlian Life Weekly; Wang Xin, Tourism Ireland; Wang Yin, Nanfang Weekly; Wang Yuan, Traveler Weekly and Li Xiaoheng, photographer, in Galway. Seán Mannion via Tourism Ireland

Millions of Chinese people will soon hear about how great Ireland is

There could be an influx of visitors from the Asian country.

WE COULD SOON be seeing a lot more Chinese tourists throughout Ireland.

In a bid to encourage more visitors from the Asian country, Tourism Ireland has been showing a number of Chinese journalists some of our best attractions.

Four journalists – whose publications have a combined circulation of more than 3 million readers – visited a number of counties during the week including Dublin, Galway, Sligo, Limerick, Leitrim and Antrim.

The number of Chinese visitors coming to Ireland has been increasing steadily in recent years. In 2014, about 40,000 Chinese people came on holidays here (up 10% on 2013).

Tourism Ireland aims to push this figure to 50,000 per year by 2017.

Amanda Burns, Tourism Ireland’s manager for Asia, said this goal will be aided by the recently-introduced British-Irish Visa Scheme which enables Chinese travellers to visit both Ireland and the UK on a single visa.

Given that visitors from China are travelling a considerable distance and often want to include more than one destination on their itinerary it makes sense to make it as easy as possible for them to visit both Ireland and the UK on a single visa.

“The aim of this fact-finding visit is to increase awareness of the island of Ireland, to help secure a greater share of the three million plus Chinese visitors who travel to Europe each year,” Burns said.

Tourism Ireland has offices in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Chengdu, and has had an increasing focus on tapping into the lucrative Chinese market in recent years.

In 2014, we welcomed approximately 8.4 million overseas visitors – leading to about €4.1 billion in revenue.

Read: Almost a million people have been evacuated from China’s east coast

Read: It looks like Taylor Swift might be going head-to-head with the Chinese government

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51 Comments
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    Mute Craig Balfe
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    Apr 14th 2023, 7:11 PM

    RIP. Absolutely shocked.

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    Mute Stephen Kelleher
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    Apr 14th 2023, 7:12 PM

    So sad…super guitarist in a super band….

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    Mute Garreth mc mahon
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    Apr 14th 2023, 7:23 PM

    46 is no age to die, RIP

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    Mute Raymond Murphy
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    Apr 14th 2023, 7:12 PM

    That’s shocking news

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    Mute Sean Partidge
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    Apr 14th 2023, 7:18 PM

    Very sad . RIP.

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    Mute Dublin - Overheard
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    Apr 14th 2023, 7:27 PM

    Super musician. This is so sad. His poor family and friends

    339
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    Mute Justin Healy
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    Apr 14th 2023, 7:41 PM

    RIP. A gent. A proper Dub. And a very good musician.

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    Mute mcleixlip
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    Apr 14th 2023, 7:39 PM

    Ah no. RIP

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    Mute A$AP ETH
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    Apr 14th 2023, 8:03 PM

    RIP lad, much too young. Sad.

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    Mute Scott Milne
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    Apr 14th 2023, 8:10 PM

    So so sad, our condolences,may Mark rest in peace.

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    Mute Margaret Mcgarry
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    Apr 14th 2023, 8:08 PM

    So sorry to hear this devastating news.

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    Mute Ronan Coleman
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    Apr 14th 2023, 8:09 PM

    That’s desperately tragic

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    Mute Kim O'Toole
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    Apr 14th 2023, 8:24 PM

    So sad. RIP.

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    Mute Kevin O'Brien
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    Apr 14th 2023, 9:15 PM

    Tragic & am absolutely shocked & saddened.
    May he Rest In Peace

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    Mute Emma McGettigan
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    Apr 14th 2023, 9:27 PM

    Very sad. RIP.

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    Mute Terri McCormick O'Gorman
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    Apr 14th 2023, 9:52 PM

    What a huge loss!

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    Mute Paulco
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    Apr 15th 2023, 1:46 AM

    Mark grew up in Ceannt Fort, Mount Brown and everyone there was so proud of his accomplishments. May he Rest In Peace.

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    Mute Terri McCormick O'Gorman
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    Apr 14th 2023, 9:52 PM

    What a huge loss!

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    Mute Gerry Campbell
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    Apr 14th 2023, 10:34 PM

    Awaaaa shocking,may he rest in peace.

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    Mute Terri McCormick O'Gorman
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    Apr 14th 2023, 9:52 PM

    What a huge loss!

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    Mute Colin Clarke
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    Apr 15th 2023, 2:01 AM

    Gutted, just gutted with this sad sad sad news. A great performer and entertainer. My thoughts and prayers go to his family and friends. A true loss to the music world. R.I.P Mark

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    Mute Tom's
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    Apr 15th 2023, 12:36 AM

    So sad can’t believe it RIP

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    Mute dave walsh
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    Apr 15th 2023, 9:46 AM

    RIP, so very sad, very talented driver

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    Mute Sean Whelan
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    Apr 15th 2023, 10:21 AM

    @dave walsh: I think you’re referring to Craig Breen, the Irish rally driver.

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