Guinness Storehouse celebrates a great year

ONE of country’s leading tourist attractions has been lifting a glass to celebrate a massive increase in the number of visitors.

A total of 1,647,408 guests passed through the doors of the Guinness Storehouse over the last 12 months.

This 10 per cent increase in visitor numbers mirrors current trends in Irish tourism, which also enjoyed a bumper year.

The Guinness Storehouse tells the story of one of Ireland’s most iconic brands.

Visitors who flock to the attrction from Ireland and abroad discover what goes into making each and every pint, learn about the incredible brand history stretching over 250 years, its iconic advertising, as well as a unique tasting like no other.

The experience unfolds across seven floors, including the highlight for many visitors – the famous Gravity Bar – where visitors can enjoy unparalleled panoramic 360 degree views over Dublin city. 

In 2016, tourists from mainland Europe made up the majority of  those visiting the Guinness Storehouse, with over 30 per cent of all guests travelling from the continent.

Tourists from the United Kingdom (27 per cent) and the United States (23.7 per cent) each made up a quarter of visitors.

The highest year-on-year growth was from the Netherlands, which increased its visitor numbers by 41 per cent.

This directly matches the most recent CSO figures, which saw a 31 per cent growth in visitor numbers from the Benelux countries (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg) – a trend that is expected to continue with the announcement of additional flight routes to the Netherlands earlier in the year.

Other key growth markets over the 12 months include Switzerland (23 per cent) followed by Canada (26 per cent), China (24 per cent) and Spain (21 per cent).

Aine Kavanagh, Media Manager of the Guinness Storehouse, said: “Last year was incredibly successful year for us at the Guinness Storehouse, surpassing all previous records.

“We are very proud of the commitment of our own team at the Guinness Storehouse and all those across the industry who work hard to promote Dublin and Ireland as a world-class destination.

“Our increase in visitors is certainly supported by increased access, with new flights continually coming into the capital. These make an instant impact on our business and are critical in driving growth in tourism to the capital.”

A 15 per cent growth in passenger numbers and flight routes into Dublin with new flights to Ireland from the US, Germany and Scandinavia, paired with strong economies in the United States and mainland Europe have also played a big role in driving these figures. 

 Dublin Airport Managing Director, Vincent Harrison said: “Last month Dublin Airport reached the 27 million passenger milestone, having surpassed the airport’s previous annual passenger record of 25 million passengers, which was set last year.

“Many businesses in the tourism industry enjoy the benefits this significant increase in passenger numbers brings to visitor attractions such as the Guinness Storehouse.” 

Meanwhile, the Guinness Storehouse management say they are continually enhancing and developing its visitor experience to meet and exceed consumers’ expectations.

The Guinness Storehouse also ensures it is ‘market ready’ by training and developing staff on the cultural differences and specific needs of people from different markets.

Guinness-Storehouse.com is translated into a number of languages, including Mandarin, to ensure visitors from further afield can research their experience and book ahead of travelling to Ireland.

Upon arrival at the Guinness Storehouse, visitors can then enjoy the tour in a number of interna-tional languages.