New for 2017 are links via the new Qatar Airways service from Doha to Dublin, beginning in June.

Under the British-Irish visa scheme, some Irish short-stay visas will allow onward travel to the UK and some UK visitor visas will allow onward travel to Ireland.

The UK experienced a large increase in visitor numbers last year. To meet the capacity, the Beijing Visa Application Center doubled its space (with an extra floor in the same building). The opening hours of the visa offices are also extended during peak times.

"This is significant as presently most Chinese traveling to Ireland are doing so as part of a UK + Ireland package," Gibbons says.

Utour's An says her company will develop in-depth tours exclusively for Ireland in future.

There are many castles and manors in mint condition in the country that are worth digging into, An says.

"In addition, many students have gone to the country to learn and practice equestrian sports," she adds.