Visiting Ireland just became easier for GCC Nationals

Ambassador of Ireland to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, H.E. Niall Holohan , commented "This initiative which improves the ease of access of visitors to the island of Ireland travelling via the UK will encourage even greater numbers of visitors to travel to Ireland from the Gulf region."

Ambassador of Ireland to the UAE, H.E. Ciarán Madden, welcomed the new programme saying "The new programme will make it significantly easier for GCC nationals to visit Ireland. Ireland is continually being named among the best places in the world to visit and this new programme will make it easier for UAE nationals to visit Ireland and experience everything that Ireland has to offer."

Amanda Burns, General Manager Tourism Ireland, Middle East and Asia, said: "Ireland's tourist visa waiver programme offers exciting possibilities for tourism to the island of Ireland from the GCC markets. The programme reinforces Ireland's commitment to tourism by making it even easier for tourists from the GCC to holiday in Ireland following a visit to the UK, giving them the opportunity to experience the spectacular scenery and the wide variety of unique things to see and do on the island of Ireland. As the world's friendliest country, we look forward to offering our famous Irish welcome to even more visitors from the GCC markets."

As of 01 July 2011 nationals from the GCC and ten other countries, who travel to the UK for tourism or business on a valid UK visa, will be able to travel on from the UK to Ireland without an Irish visa under the new Short-stay Visa Waiver Programme.

For more information on the Short-stay Visa Waiver Programme please visit http://www.discoverireland.com/ae/ireland-plan-your-visit/facts/Visa-Passport-and-Embassies/