A group of top American tour operators – all specialists in group tours and responsible for making the travel arrangements for a diverse range of large groups, including alumni groups – visited Ireland last week as guests of Tourism Ireland, Tourism NI and Fáilte Ireland.
The group were on a fact-finding trip, which took in the Titanic Belfast, Glenarm Castle and the Giant’s Causeway, as well as The Little Museum of Dublin, Kylemore Abbey, Glen Keen Farm & Visitor Centre and the Sliabh Liag Distillery. They also partook in a Galway food tour and a tour of the oyster farm at DK Connemara Oysters.
“Tourism Ireland was delighted to invite these top American tour operators to visit the island of Ireland. We believe it is extremely important for travel decision-makers such as these to experience for themselves the high standard of our tourism offering and the many things to see and do here, so they are better equipped to advise their clients on future travel plans,” said Alison Metcalfe, Tourism Ireland’s head of North America.
“Last year, we welcomed a record 1.83 million North American visitors to the island of Ireland. Tourism Ireland has prioritised North America for 2018, as a market which offers a strong return on investment, in terms of holiday visitors and expenditure. Our aim is to deliver a 5% increase in visitor numbers and 7% increase in revenue from North America this year. A number of factors are working in our favour, including more airline seats than ever before from the US, as well as the strength and competitiveness of the vacation experience right around the island of Ireland.”
© 2018 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
