Iconic Guinness Storehouse is the jewel in city’s tourism crown

THE Guinness Storehouse is celebrating after retaining its position as Ireland’s number one international visitor attraction while surpassing all previous records.

The 1,711,281 guests who passed through its doors in 2017 means that it has hosted almost 18 million visitors since first opening in 2000.

The attraction has experienced growth from a number of key markets including USA (+13 per cent), France (+8 per cent), and Canada (+5 per cent) along with new and developing markets like China (+21 per cent) and Australia (+2 per cent).

The Guinness Storehouse also published the results of an independent economic impact report that identified the attraction as a key factor in attracting international visitors to Ireland.

A whopping 34 per cent of those surveyed stated that a visit to the Guinness Storehouse played a crucial role in their decision to travel to Ireland.

Overseas visitors to the Guinness Storehouse spend an average of €134 a day on other services and experiences outside of the Guinness Storehouse; and in turn support an additional 8,907 jobs.

Located in the heart of Dublin city, the Guinness Storehouse is also a significant direct employer, employing 320 full-time staff and 62 seasonal workers. 

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

The journey begins at the bottom of the world's largest pint glass and continues up through seven floors, including the highlight for many visitors – the famous Gravity Bar, which showcases unparalleled panoramic 360 degree views of Dublin city.

Visitors from Ireland and abroad discover what goes into making each and every pint of Guinness, and learn about the incredible brand history stretching over 250 years.

In 2017, tourists from USA and the UK made up the majority of visitors to the Guinness Storehouse with 28 per cent of visitors coming from North America and 26 per cent  visiting from the UK.

Paul Carty, Managing Director of the Guinness Storehouse said: “2017 was another incredibly successful year for the Guinness Storehouse.

“As well as welcoming more than 1.7 million visitors through our doors we also announced details of a €16 million expansion plan which will see the iconic Gravity Bar double in size.

“Our aim is to position Ireland and the Guinness Storehouse as a year-round, ‘must visit’ destination and to ensure that the contribution of overseas tourism to the economy continues to expand.”

The Storehouse has helped propel Dublin into the National Geographic Traveler’s magazine designation of ‘Best of the World’ 2018, its annual list of the 21 ‘must-see’ destinations to visit in the year ahead.

The selection process included nominations from the publication’s worldwide network of writers, editors and explorers.

Dublin is described as “Ireland’s intimate capital” which “exudes a friendly, village vibe” and the magazine urges readers to “stroll around to discover Dublin’s historic Georgian squares and cozy pubs.”