Lufthansa has described Shannon Airport as the key gateway for tourism in the West of Ireland.
The German airline is launching it’s first ever service from the Clare facility tomorrow.
It comes as new CSO figures show a boost in tourism numbers so far this year.
It looks like the tourism industry here could take off, with the launch of Luthansa’s new service from Shannon.
The German airline will operate weekly flights on Saturdays from now until the end of October.
Today, a senior figure within Lufthansa said demand has been strongest from Germany, news wchich should sit well with local tourism operators.
Their Director of Sales for Ireland Andreas Koster also said it’s too soon to decide whether they will expand their services beyond this initial service.
However, he says they’re eager to take advantage of what Shannon has to offer.
It comes as the tourism industry has received a welcome boost, with a 1% rise in the numbers visiting Ireland in the first three months of the year.
The largest increase was in travellers from North America, and developing markets such as New Zealand, China, India and the Middle East.
The chair of Loop Head Tourism is welcoming the increase saying it’s down to hard work by those in the industry.
But there’s been a 6.5% drop- off in British visitors since January, something Ian Glendinning says is surprising.
