Trinity College Dublin.[Photo provided to China Daily]

According to the China Tourism Academy statistics, Chinese residents are expected to make more than 114 million outbound trips this year, up 15 percent on last year, spending an estimated $14 billion dollars. Outbound travel is forecast to reach 200 million by 2020, with tourist spending increasing threefold, according to the Spain-based United Nations World Tourism Organization.

"We're expecting to see more than 50 percent of growth in Ireland's tourism business," says Dai Yu, marketing director of China's online travel company Ctrip.

The convenient UK-Ireland visa policy and growing outbound tourism market in China are behind the rosy picture, according to Dai.

In October 2014, the British Irish Visa Scheme was launched at the British Embassy in Beijing. Chinese nationals can visit the United Kingdom and Ireland using a single visa for travel purposes. Under the plan, some Irish short stay visas allow onward travel to the UK and some UK visitor visas allow onward travel to Ireland.

For example, a Chinese visitor to Dublin would be able to make a short trip to London or Belfast without needing a separate visa. Alternatively, a Chinese visitor in London could travel to Ireland's Dublin or Cork, Gibbons explains.

Chinese visitors to Ireland will also benefit from an increasing number of visa application centers in 12 Chinese cities.

And the Irish tourism industry has prepared Chinese marketing materials and websites. Staff members who speak Chinese have been assigned to help Chinese tourists. And hotels and bed and breakfasts offering free Wi-Fi, green tea, toiletries and slippers have been recommended.

Information on how to do tax refunds is also in place to help Chinese visitors wanting to shop.