The Irish government announced its decision to maintain the 9% reduced VAT rate on tourism during 2014. Initiated in 2011 to revitalize the sector's activity, the measure should have ended the 31st of December, 2013.Since the reduction of VAT in tourism, attendance and revenue in the industry has been improving. During the first nine months of 2013, Ireland welcomed 326,000 additional visitors, 6.4% more than during the same period in 2012. The number of visitors from key source markets has risen by: 14.6% from North America, 5.1% from Continental Europe, 3.5% from Great Britain, and 13.7% from Australia and emerging markets.2012 had already been a very good year, with a total of 7.4 million visitors and 3.5 billion euro in revenue.
