ABSTRACT

This chapter covers two countries, the United Kingdom and Ireland. The former is about the same size as France in terms of population whereas Ireland is much smaller (about 7–8 per cent their size). Yet Ireland and the UK share island status, a common land border, a legal tradition, the English language and a style of public administration which has endured since Irish independence from the UK in 1921. There are very strong economic and political ties between the two countries; for example, around half the foreign tourists who visit Ireland come from Great Britain or Northern Ireland. Both countries have experienced reduced public expenditure and falling living standards, associated with recession since 2008, which have affected their tourism sectors. This chapter describes the broad features of tourism in the UK and Ireland and the administrative structures within which rural tourism operates, which will contextualise the discussion of the main themes. Similarities and differences with the French experience are then discussed.