Ireland reports tourist explosion

It appears that Irish hoteliers' eyes have certainly been smiling this year as new figures from Tourism Ireland reveal that 8.8 million people visited Irish shores in 2006, 8.5 per cent up on 2005.

Some 5 million UK residents hopped over the Irish Sea in the last 12 months but the surge in tourist numbers was also fuelled by large numbers of Europeans and North Americans making the trip to the Emerald Isle.

Ireland has long since been famed for its hospitable hosts, rich culture and breathtaking natural environment but only in the last decade, as the economic phenomenon known as the Celtic Tiger took off, has tourism in the country stretched beyond ex pats returning and those seeking their family heritage.

In a preliminary report, the tourist office says that Europeans visitors jumped by 17 per cent to 2.3 million while North American visitors are set to breach the one million mark for the first time for six years.

Tourism Ireland's chief executive Paul O'Toole said that expected next year's figures to swell to 9.3 million and revenue to increase to €4.6 billion (£3.1 billion).

As part of a homage to its literary past, Belfast is holding a city-wide festival in honour of children's author CS Lewis from December 7th to 10th.