To be honest, Ireland was never on the top of my list of places I wanted to visit. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to come here, there just wasn’t much that came to mind when I thought of Ireland aside from green fields and lots of sheep! Since being in Ireland, I’ve come to appreciate all that the country has to offer. I think that their competitive advantage still lies in their natural resources, like their green pastures and stunning beaches. Even when in the heart of Dublin, it still feels quaint and peaceful. The Irish people themselves are a competitive advantage as well. They are friendly, welcoming, and passionate about their traditions. While you can surely find an abundance of green “Irish drinking team” tshirts and even a leprechaun museum, they dont overplay or over-commercialize their home. A trip to Ireland still feels very authentic due to their dedication to preserving historic sites and artifacts and allowing traditions like Gaelic football to live on. This is almost like a double edged sword for the tourism in Ireland. Because they don’t over commercialize, their attractions are not as well known. I think that having more natural attractions also narrows who they appeal to; I feel that more people are attracted to the action of bustling cities with lots of flavorful foods and drinks. Dublin has also proven to be extremely expensive! This has been one of the toughest things for me to overcome. I think Ireland would benefit from investing more in their marketing to show all that Ireland has to offer – excitement from pubs and a melting pot of restaurants in Dublin, historic sites like castles and hidden gems sprinkled in the major cities and countryside, plenty of museums and art galleries, peaceful green walks in the countryside against the Cliffs of Moher, and relaxing and unique beaches all along the coast.