Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I was delighted to hear this morning that Ireland has been named among the top five countries in the world to visit in 2015 by the Lonely Planetguide. The guide's annual lists have enormous influence in the travel industry and it is no exaggeration to say that when the Lonely Planettalks, the world listens. Aside from our stunning landscape, friendliness and incredible hospitality, the guide drew special attention to the Wild Atlantic Way, which was opened last year by the then Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, saying it rivals California's Pacific Coast Highway and Australia's Great Ocean Road. This is a fantastic accolade and a testament to the savvy decision to invest €8 million in the route in last year's budget.
The guide went on to cite hospitality as one of Ireland's qualities. Although our people are undeniably our greatest asset, the retention of the 9% VAT rate and the abolition of the air travel tax undoubtedly contribute to Ireland's overall attractiveness. Today is a great day for Irish tourism and such a glowing recommendation by a globally-respected publication will no doubt result in a major boost to Ireland's already booming tourism industry.