Source — RTE
More than 800,000 tourists have visited whiskey distilleries around the island of Ireland in the year to the end of June.
The majority of those visitors came from overseas, with the main markets being the USA, Great Britain, Germany, France, as well as domestic visitors.
The Irish Whiskey Association said the average spend made by those tourists has also increased over the period.
Their age profile has also become younger with a better gender balance than previously.
“The latest distillery visitor numbers show that whiskey tourism is continuing to grow in importance as a valuable contributor to Ireland’s experience economy, as well as to local economies,” said director of the Irish Whiskey Association Eoin Ó Catháin.
“Premium whiskey production is, of course, at the heart of what our world-class distilleries do.”
“However, many also encompass tourism, hospitality, retail, food, entertainment and events, thereby playing a valuable role in supporting the sustainability of local economies, both directly and indirectly through their supply chains, and also through the value added to local economies by distillery visitor spend.”
“However, many also encompass tourism, hospitality, retail, food, entertainment and events, thereby playing a valuable role in supporting the sustainability of local economies, both directly and indirectly through their supply chains, and also through the value added to local economies by distillery visitor spend.”
The new data came as the industry gathers to mark the 700-year anniversary of the first known written account of distillation in Ireland.
The Red Book of Ossory, an ancient vellum manuscript produced in Kilkenny in 1324, refers to aqua vitae, which became uisce beatha in Irish and later whiskey in English.
Today there are currently over 28 Irish whiskey visitor experiences across the island, three quarters of which are outside the urban centres of Dublin and Belfast.
“We welcome the Irish Whiskey Association’s analysis showing 800,000 visitors attended distillery experiences over the past year. Interest continues to grow, with +20% increase in online searches for ‘Irish Whiskey Tours’ from key markets such as the US, Germany and Great Britain year over year in 2024,” said CEO of Tourism Ireland, Alice Mansergh.
“This year’s 700-year anniversary is a unique moment to mark the craft, history, local ingredients, landscapes and people that have shaped the Irish whiskey story through the ages.”