Tourism

New Paris Tourism Event

'Gathering Bus' from London

National Express, a major coach tour company in GB, has branded one of its coaches to promote The Gathering Ireland 2013. The coach will run from London to Dublin, helping to highlight the many festivals and events taking place right around the country this year as part of The Gathering in the all-important G

B market.

Simon Gregory, Tourism Ireland’s director of markets, said: “Since last year, Tourism Ireland has been promoting The Gathering Ireland extensively around the world, targeting millions of people who have ancestral links to Ireland, or those who have an affinity for the destination and all things Irish. Millions of people in GB have links with Ireland and we are reaching out to them, encouraging them to come home for what is a truly special year.

Simon is pictured with Tom Stables, CEO of National Express, in front of the ‘Gathering’ National Express coach, at the coach station in Digbeth.

“Great Britain is our largest and most important tourism market, delivering almost half of all our total overseas visitors. Tourism Ireland is rolling out the new ‘GB Path to Growth’ strategy, which aims to return this all-important market to sustained growth. We are targeting new groups that are receptive to the type of experience the island of Ireland can offer and raising awareness of the many things to see and do here – underpinned by a strong value message.”

Oz Agents on Parade

Leading travel agents from Australia enjoyed a fact-finding visit to Ireland over the St Patrick’s period, as guests of Tourism Ireland and Etihad Airways. They were here to check out some of the many things to see and do in Ireland and to find out what’s in store for holidaymakers from ‘Down Under’ during this special year of The Gathering Ireland. It was also a wonderful opportunity to highlight the excellent connectivity between Australia and Ireland, with Etihad via Abu Dhabi.

They are pictured at the Battle of the Boyne visitor centre in Oldbridge with Fiona Clelland, Tourism Ireland (right) and Louise Ellen, Etihad Airways (second right).

One of the highlights of the travel agents’ time here was taking part in the first-ever Peoples Parade in the Dublin St Patrick’s Day

01Aus parade. The travel agents also paid a visit to Newgrange and the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre in Co Meath, as well as to the Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre in Oldbridge and Glendalough in Co Wicklow. In Dublin, they visited Croke Park where they did the Etihad Skyline rooftop tour. They also stopped off at the Little Museum of Dublin on St Stephen’s Green and enjoyed an evening at the Irish House Party on Francis Street

Diane Butler, Tourism Ireland’s manager in Australia, said: “We are delighted that these travel agents have taken time out from their busy schedules to come and visit Ireland. For many, it was their first time here and they were extremely impressed by our wonderful scenery, our rich heritage, as well as by the hospitality and friendliness of the people they met. Familiarisation visits such as these are extremely important as they help the travel agents to know exactly what we have to offer potential Australian holidaymakers; the aim is to really enthuse them about the destination, so that when they return to Australia, they are better equipped to advise their clients on future travel plans.

Irish at BoBI

Tourism operators from around Ireland travelled to Great Britain to join Tourism Ireland at the ‘Best of Britain and Ireland’ (BoBI) travel t

rade exhibition, which took place at the NEC in Birmingham.

Pictured are Noel Ryan, Kerry Airport; Simon Gregory, Tourism Ireland; Gretel O’Sullivan, Destination Killarney; Minister for Health James Reilly TD; and Fallon Clifford, Killarney Hotels, on the Tourism Ireland stand.

BoBI is the premier, annual event for the travel trade in Britain, attracting over 2,000 influential coach tour operators, group travel organisers and educational travel organisers. The two-day showcase provided a valuable opportunity for the participating Irish companies to network and do business face-to-face with key GB decision-makers. The objective was to encourage them to introduce Ireland into their programmes or brochures for 2013, or to extend the programmes in which Ireland already features. The Gathering Ireland 2013, and the many festivals and events taking place here this year, was a major focus for Tourism Ireland at this year’s BoBI.

Vanessa Markey, head of Tourism Ireland in Great Britain, said: “Great Britain is our largest and most important tourism market, delivering almost half of all our total overseas visitors. Tourism Ireland is rolling out the new ‘GB Path to Growth’ strategy, which aims to return this all-important market to sustained growth. We are targeting new groups that are receptive to the type of experience the island of Ireland can offer and raising awareness of the many things to see and do here – underpinned by a strong value message.