35 top travel professionals from the Canadian Automobile Association, all specialists in driving holidays, visited Ireland last week with Insight Vacations, a leading tour operator. They were in the country as guests of Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland.
The group's fact-finding visit involved sampling the experiences on offer for Canadians wishing to enjoy a driving holiday in Ireland, with the aim of enthusing them about Ireland, so that when they would be better informed to advise their clients when planning and booking their holidays.
The group’s itinerary included Trinity College, the Rock of Cashel, Blarney Castle and a trip by jaunting car around Killarney National Park. They also visited the Cliffs of Moher, Galway Cathedral and Ashford Castle.
Dana Welch, Tourism Ireland’s Manager in Canada, said, “We are delighted to welcome these top-performing travel professionals, selected by Insight Vacations, to Ireland. Familiarisation trips such as this are extremely important, as the travel professionals get to experience our superb tourism offering at first-hand. Our aim is to enthuse them about the destination, so that when they return home to Canada it will be easier for them to advise their clients on planning and booking driving holidays in Ireland.”
2017 looks set to be another good year for Irish tourism from Canada and the United States, with the latest CSO figures showing over 1.6 million visitors to Ireland from North America during the January to September period this year – an increase of 18.6% when compared to the same nine-month period in 2016.
