Dutch airline KLM said on Tuesday that it will launch a new, twice-daily flight between Amsterdam and Dublin.

The route will help passengers travelling further afield, as Amsterdam is a key European hub, with KLM offering onward connections to other European countries, North America, Asia and the Middle East.

Niall Gibbons, chief executive of Tourism Ireland, said: “Today’s announcement by KLM is more good news for Irish tourism, as we head into the high season. Not only will it help grow visitor numbers from the Netherlands, but this new flight will offer connectivity from other important tourism markets, including North America, Asia and the Middle East.”

The Netherlands is also an important market for tourism to the island of Ireland and according to Tourism Ireland there has been an “excellent” growth in visitor numbers from the Benelux countries so far again this year, with the most recent CSO figures, for February to April, showing growth of 31 per cent - an extra 21,100 visitors compared with the same three-month period in 2015.

“We are determined to keep the momentum going and ensure that growth continues,” Mr Gibbons said.