Irish minister for transport, transport and sport Leo Varadkar has welcomed new figures showing an increase in the number of inbound visitors to the country last year.

According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), tourist numbers grew by nearly 8 per cent to more than 6.5 million, compared with 2010. It is the first annual growth since 2007.

Varadkar said: "I am pleased to see the full-year figures confirming a return to growth in tourism in 2011. However, the reduction towards the end of the year shows we cannot afford to be complacent.

"The government remains committed to tourism, and the measures introduced in the Jobs Initiative, such as the 9 per cent VAT rate, will stay in place for 2012."

Details: www.transport.ie

Image: Hans-Peter Bock