[Article] Tourists over 66 get free travel in Ireland

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...266441900.html

Tourists over 66 get free travel in Ireland
ALISON HEALY

OLDER TOURISTS will enjoy free rail travel around the State following the introduction of a new scheme yesterday.

All overseas visitors aged 66 or over, from anywhere in the world, will be able to benefit from unlimited travel on mainline, Dart and commuter trains in the scheme, developed by Fáilte Ireland in conjunction with Iarnród Éireann.

The scheme was announced by the Government as part of the budget in December, in a bid to increase overseas visitor numbers.

It is similar to the free travel scheme for Irish people aged 66 and over, but does not include free bus or Luas travel.

It also differs from the scheme for Irish residents when it comes to cross-Border travel. Irish senior citizens travelling from Dublin to Belfast are entitled to free rail travel for the entire journey, but overseas visitors will only be entitled to free travel for the portion of their journey in this State. They will have to purchase a ticket for the remainder of their trip, from Dundalk onwards.

The scheme is initially for a one-year period, but will be subject to review and is expected to continue indefinitely if the demand is there.Tourists can access the scheme by visiting the Fáilte Ireland website, www.discoverireland.com, to arrange for a “Golden Trekker” reservation. They will be asked for details such as their date of birth and passport or national identity card number. Their Golden Trekker reservation can then be used to book their free Golden Trekker tickets when they arrive.

Tickets can be purchased in blocks of four days, depending on the length of stay. A four-day unlimited ticket is normally worth €100.

Visitors who do not pre-book the reservation can also avail of the scheme when they arrive by calling to a Fáilte Ireland tourist information office.

Fáilte Ireland’s Redmond O’Donoghue said the initiative was a very encouraging and constructive development.

“It will help strengthen the appeal of Ireland among some visitors, and Fáilte Ireland believes it will pay dividends to Irish tourism longer term.”

Iarnród Éireann chief executive Dick Fearn said the scheme would give Irish tourism a boost in a difficult time.

“As well as providing tourists with rail travel facilities, they will also benefit from the unique perspective our network gives of the beautiful Irish countryside.”

The Times of India has already highlighted the scheme, following Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s remarks on it earlier this month.

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[Colm Moore]

http://www.independent.ie/breaking-n...s-2101037.html

Pensioners to get free rail passes
Tuesday March 16 2010

Pensioners visiting Ireland can now travel free of charge on the railways, tourism chiefs said.

In an extension of the existing scheme for citizens aged 66 and over, travellers from overseas can take advantage of special four-day passes.

The so-called Golden Trekker tickets will allow unrestricted rail travel for the set period in a move to boost visitor numbers among older people.

Redmond O'Donoghue, chairman of Failte Ireland, said the international extension was a very encouraging and constructive development.

"It will help strengthen the appeal of Ireland amongst some visitors and Failte Ireland believes it will pay dividends to Irish tourism, longer-term," he said.

"Our experience of working with Iarnrod Eireann on putting this scheme in place has been a very positive one and we would like to acknowledge their help and active support in helping to finalise arrangements in time for this year's tourist season."

The four-day Trekker tickets - which would be worth 100 euro - can be booked by visitors aged 66 and over on the internet or through a special telephone hotline.

Dick Fearn, chief executive of Iarnrod Eireann, said there is no restriction on nationality or country of residence.

"As well as providing tourists with rail travel facilities, they will also benefit from the unique perspective our network gives of the beautiful Irish countryside," he said.

Press Association

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...283932503.html

12,000 tickets issued for free rail travel
ALISON HEALY

SOME 12,000 tickets for free rail travel have been issued to older tourists in the Golden Trekker scheme which was launched in March.

Overseas visitors aged 66 or over, from anywhere in the world, can benefit from unlimited travel on main line, Dart and commuter trains in the scheme.

The arrangement was developed by Fáilte Ireland and Iarnród Éireann.

It was announced as part of last December’s budget in an effort to increase visitor numbers.

A Fáilte Ireland spokesman said 12,000 four-day tickets were sought by tourists between mid-March and mid-September.

That figure was expected to have risen to 15,000 by the end of the year.

A four-day unlimited rail ticket is usually worth €100 which means that by the end of the year, the scheme will have provided free travel worth about €1.5 million to older tourists.

The scheme was introduced as a one-year pilot project and is currently under review.

Asked if it would continue after the pilot phase, a Department of Tourism spokesman said the review of the scheme was due to be completed shortly.

“The final decision as to whether the Golden Trekker scheme will be continued beyond the end of the year will be made having regard to the resources available to the tourism agencies and Iarnród Éireann, the operational demands of the scheme on those bodies and the outcome of the review, including an assessment of its overall impact on visitor intentions.”

The spokesman said the free rail scheme had generated positive coverage and very valuable free publicity for Ireland abroad and was positively received by many older visitors.

The free travel scheme has been highlighted on websites of news organisations such as the New York Times , Dallas Morning News , Los Angeles Times and the Times of India . Fáilte Ireland has said a survey of Golden Trekker ticket holders found that one in five people said the scheme had influenced their decision to come to Ireland.

Half of the ticket holders said it had influenced their decision to travel around Ireland by train.

A Fáilte Ireland spokesman said the tourism agency was “very much in favour” of the scheme continuing.

“It’s another weapon in our armoury to encourage older people with disposable income to come here,” the spokesman added.

“It also encourages people coming to Ireland to travel around the country, instead of staying in Dublin.”