It’s been a standard feature of coverage of both the British Queen’s visit last week and Barack Obama’s visit this week to Ireland that it would be a boon for tourism. I am dubious of the notion. So I ask you, citizens of the dope-o-sphere,
a) did you hear much about either visit?
and
b) Did either visit stimulate your interest in visiting these shores?
I’ve visited several times in the past, usually for work, but not for a good 15 years.
Their visits and, indeed, other holiday show type programmes make me think I should get across there again sometime. But I’d be thinking this even without QEII/POTUS’s visits.
Sadly, work won’t pay for it anymore!
a) In the U.S., I heard a bit about the Queen’s visit. It was mostly remarkable here because (IIRC) it was the first visit to the Republic by the British monarch. The only other news coverage I noted was concerns about terrorist threats from Irish extremists.
Obama’s visit got a little more coverage here, particularly his visit to the little town where his ancestor lived.
b) Not really, but then, I visited Ireland in 1995, absolutely loved it, and have always wanted to return.
I don’t think so, but I am probably going to Ireland next year because my dad wants to go and my mom doesn’t, and I suppose it is vaguely possible that the various state visits made him more interested in visiting. (But I think it is something he has wanted to do for a while.)
I’d like to visit Ireland someday, but neither the Queen’s nor Obama’s recent visits have made me more likely to visit in the foreseeable future.
Canada here, by the way–we did hear about the Queen visiting, but we heard very little about Obama’s visit.
No, but I never have had any interest at all to visit Ireland.
I’m thinking about it. Would I get to address Parliament?
I heard about both visits. The news does not make me want to visit Ireland more.
However, I’ve wanted to visit Ireland for pretty much my whole life anyway, and if anyone wants to take me, they are welcome to do so. 
If I had any money for traveling, Ireland would be at the top of the list.
I have wanted to return since spending some time there 10 years ago, I am not sure why a Queen or President visiting would influence my desire to do so.
No really, how are these visits supposed to be boons to tourism? The Olympics are supposed to bring a rise in tourism for the host country/city/region, but that is with months of run-up coverage and two weeks of coverage that goes beyond mere sports. A few photo-op clips of Obama in Ireland aren’t going to do the same thing.
I visited Ireland about 7 years ago and generally enjoyed myself and have considered returning. Obama’s visit has discouraged me a little, though, and not for political reasons. When I visit another nation I like to be a fly on the wall. I like to immerse myself in the culture, not be catered to as a tourist. Reading about Obama’s visit and how the locals of Moneygall went out of their way to turn a profit from it turned me off a little. I understand, of course. Times are hard and it’d be foolish to turn your nose up at anything that could help the economy. Ireland is a very small country that gets a lot of tourism. The last thing I want to see as a tourist is another tourist.
Don’t care who else visits anywhere, politico or not.
That being said, mrAru does have some Irish in his background, and we have been intending on visiting Ireland for one of those organized bus tours for a while, just haven’t found the time and money to do so yet.
[he has family from Athy, so the tour needs to hit near there with enough free time to run over and take a peek]
In defence of the good people of Moneygall, although no doubt some people did what you say, most of the activity in the town stemmed from genuine enthusiasm that “one of their own” had made good and not money grubbing. The weather was awful that day, yet people turned out in droves and waited patiently for a glimpse of the POTUS.
With regard to avoiding tourist traps, even though the country’s as small as it is, there seem to be swathes of perfectly nice areas that receive few foreign visitors.
I agree with you in general, hence me starting the thread. It irritated me that the notion was bandied about so widely, when on the face it, it seems an overstatement at least. However, I think the visit of the British Queen might influence some people who imagine Ireland is some kind of no-go area, with the Troubles still in full flare. It’s not a universal perception, but it’s one I’ve encountered enough that I get the impression that for some people Ireland = terrorism/bombs.
It may not influence people on a conscious level, but it certainly can’t hurt to remind potential tourists that Ireland is there. Add that to some pictures of friendly locals backslapping with the President and you have a decent commercial that ran on every news broadcast in America for a few days. Too bad it’s just a fraction of the publicity that the royal wedding generated.
Ireland has always been pretty far down on my destination list: the visits haven’t changed that.
Yup, me too, on all counts.
I was going back anyway.
a) Yes, I heard about both.
b)No. I’ve always figured Ireland kind of on the middle of the places I wanted to visit. It’s still right in the middle there.