A group of Italian travel agents visited Ballinahown Craft Village , as guests of Tourism Ireland, Boscolo Tours (leading Italian tour operator) and Aer Lingus. The group was 

here on a fact-finding visit, to sample at first-hand the holiday experience on offer in Ireland for Italians.

 

They are pictured in the Burren, with tour guide Tony Kirby (front, left) and Aoife King, Tourism Ireland (front, second left).

 

The group’s itinerary, designed by Fáilte Ireland, included site inspections of various hotesl as well as visits to major attractions like the Guinness Storehouse, Clonmacnoise, the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren.

 

Niamh Kinsella, Tourism Ireland’s manager in Italy, said: “Italy is an important market for tourism to the island of Ireland and visits like this are a key element of the work that Tourism Ireland undertakes each year with the travel trade in Italy. There really is no substitute for being able to come here and experience what Ireland has to offer at first-hand; our aim is to enthuse the travel agents about the destination, so that when they return home, they are better equipped to advise their clients on future travel plans.”