Tag Archives: Tourism Ireland

One of the biggest tour operators in the Netherlands, de Jong Intra Vakanties, together with 16 of its top-producing travel agents, were in Ireland this week as guests of Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland. The aim of the travel agents’ fact-finding visit is to allow them experience some of the country’s superb tourism offering, so that when they return home they will be even more enthusiastic, and better equipped, to advise their clients about travelling here. In Clare, the group enjoyed visits to the Burren Centre in Kilfenora, the Ailwee Caves and the Cliffs of Moher. Karen van der Horst, Tourism Ireland’s manager the Netherlands, said, “Fact-finding visits like this are an important element of our work with the travel trade in the Netherlands, as the travel agents get to experience at first-hand what’s on offer here for Dutch holidaymakers. “2016 looks set to be another good year for tourism from the Netherlands, with the latest CSO figures showing visitor numbers from …

Clare tourism businesses were in Dublin this week to attend the high-profile Meitheal, Fáilte Ireland’s largest trade fair. Organised by Fáilte Ireland, in conjunction with its sister agency Tourism Ireland this year’s event brought over 310 overseas buyers into the country to meet with 455 Irish tourism businesses. Last year’s Meitheal event resulted in over 2,650 new business contracts being signed, including almost 900 contracts with international operators who had never programmed Ireland before. At this year’s event, there were up to 40 tour operators in attendance who have not previously had Ireland on their books – predominantly from China, India, the Gulf States and South Africa. Speaking at Meitheal, Fáilte Ireland’s CEO, Shaun Quinn, said, “By bringing both overseas and Irish operators together eyeball to eyeball, we managed to generate deals and contracts which will ensure significant additional tourism activity next year – including in County Clare”. “Whether at the trade fair, or through our tailored trips around the country, for the overseas attendees, Ireland certainly impressed our overseas guests and …

Tourism Ireland’s is targeting the Italian market, with billboard advertisements highlighting the Cliffs of Moher and Ireland in the key metro stations of Milan and Brescia. Tourism Ireland has teamed up with eDreams, one of Italy’s top online travel agents, in a joint campaign to promote Ireland to affluent commuters, with attractive offers encouraging them to book their Irish holiday on eDreams, a popular booking platform in Italy. The poster ad shows a stunning image of the Cliffs of Moher and features an attractive offer for a short break – reminding Italians why they should put Ireland on their holiday wish-list for 2016. As well as the metro ads, the campaign is also highlighting holidays in Ireland through email marketing to hundreds of thousands of travellers throughout Italy on the eDreams database, as well as online advertising on the eDreams site. In 2015, we welcomed about 321,000 Italian visitors to Ireland, up +25% on 2014. Niamh Kinsella, Tourism Ireland’s manager …

Millions of French commuters are seeing ads for Ireland, featuring the Cliffs of Moher, on large billboard posters as they pass through the busy metro stations of Paris. Tourism Ireland in France has teamed up with a leading online travel agent – Go Voyages – once again this year for a joint promotional campaign. Some 660 billboard ads are prominently displayed in metro stations across the French capital, grabbing the attention of commuters with beautiful images of the Cliffs of Moher and the Causeway Coastal Route and featuring attractive offers for a weekend break – reminding them why they should put the island of Ireland on their holiday wish-list for 2016. The campaign also includes advertising in Direct Matin (free daily newspaper), radio ads on the Chante France radio station, online advertising and a dedicated Ireland page on the Go Voyages website. Elmagh Killeen, Tourism Ireland’s manager for southern Europe, said: “2015 was the third consecutive record-breaking year for French …

CSO figures published today (Wednesday) show a significant increase in overseas visitors to Ireland between December 2015 and February 2016. Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland, said, “Today’s figures represent a very positive start to 2016 – confirming that, for the first time ever, we welcomed more than one million visitors in the first two months of the year. In the period December 2015 and February 2016, almost a quarter of a million additional visitors (+17%) came to Ireland, when compared with the same three-month period last year.” Growth was recorded from all markets around the world – including Britain (+21%), North America (+13%), Mainland Europe (over +14%) and from Australia and developing markets (almost +9%). “Our focus now is on surpassing last year’s success, to ensure that 2016 is another record-breaking year for overseas tourism. We remain conscious of recent tragic events in Brussels and elsewhere and the potential impact on travel; we continue to monitor the situation,” Mr …

Liverpool was the location for a major tourism business networking event this week, where there was a great opportunity to showcase Ireland. The visit of Prince Charles to the Burren last week gave North Clare an edge in noting it as a destination. More than 300 top international buyers from 40 different countries, including Australia, China, India, Japan, Brazil and Russia, were provided with a wealth of information about the island Ireland at ExploreGB 2016. As part of its ongoing partnership with VisitBritain, Tourism Ireland – together with 18 Irish tourism companies, including Doolin2Aran Ferries – took part in ExploreGB, VisitBritain’s flagship international event which took place in Liverpool. The two-day workshop involved a series of pre-scheduled, one-to-one appointments – showcasing Britain and the island of Ireland to an influential audience of international buyers and helping to deliver additional itineraries and brochure pages featuring both destinations. ExploreGB was also an ideal opportunity for Tourism Ireland to highlight the British-Irish Visa …

A TV travel programme featuring County Clare and the Wild Atlantic Way has scooped a top award in Italy. The prestigious media award was presented by the Adutei (Associazione dei Delegati Ufficiali del Turismo Estero in Italia – the association of foreign tourist boards in Italy) in Rome this week. The awards recognise the best in Italian radio and TV travel broadcasts – and Alle Falde del Kilimangiaro, the most popular travel programme in Italy, was awarded first prize for an episode highlighting the Wild Atlantic Way. Tourism Ireland in Milan invited camerawoman Annapia Chico to come and explore the Wild Atlantic Way in spring 2014, for the Alle Falde del Kilimangiaro show, which airs on the national TV station, RAI Tre. She filmed in counties Galway and Clare. To view the winning Alle Falde del Kilimangiaro episode, click here. Niamh Kinsella, Tourism Ireland’s manager Italy, said, “We are absolutely delighted that the Alle Falde del Kilimangiaro show highlighting Clare and the Wild Atlantic Way has been singled out for this prestigious award. Tourism Ireland has …

Tourism Ireland has launched a new online film, ‘The Outing 2015’, specially created to target LGBT couples around the world. The organisation is encouraging them to come and celebrate their weddings and honeymoons in Ireland. The video was filmed last weekend at The Outing, the world’s first-ever LGBT matchmaking festival and an offshoot of the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival, which saw thousands of people descend on the North Clare town. It also features footage of the spectacular scenery in the area. To view the film, click here<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2SREnibYGM&feature=youtu.be>. Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland, said, “Research unveiled at World Travel Market last year showed the annual spend on travel by LGBT people exceeded US$200 billion for the first time in 2014. Ireland’s ‘yes’ vote in May also delivered a strong message of tolerance, respect and open-mindedness, positioning Ireland as a welcoming destination for LGBT travellers. We are delighted to unveil our latest online film, highlighting The Outing and promoting Ireland to LGBT …