The latest batch of Irish tourism businesses to complete Fáilte Ireland’s Get China Ready programme have received their certificates from the national tourism development authority. Among those receiving certification were the Guinness Storehouse, Dublin’s Marker Hotel, Cork’s Castlemartyr Resort, the InterContinental Hotel in Ballsbridge and Limerick’s Strand Hotel.
Also receiving accreditation were the first restaurants in Ireland to undertake the programme, Dublin’s Fire Restaurant & Lounge and Sole Seafood & Grill.
Tourism Opportunities
The China Ready Programme is aimed at educating Irish tourism businesses about the opportunities available from the Chinese tourist market and is part of Fáilte Ireland’s work to assist tourism businesses with market diversification and reduce the risks currently posed by Brexit. The Programme is an initiative of Fáilte Ireland in cooperation with Tourism Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland.
Presenting the certificates, Paul Keeley, Director of Commercial Development at Fáilte Ireland emphasised, “China is one of the fastest-growing outbound travel markets in the world with numbers predicted to grow to 200 million by 2020. Last year, an estimated 70,000 Chinese visitors travelled to Ireland but with the advent of the new direct flights from Beijing and Hong Kong that number is expected to substantially increase. The aim of the ‘China Ready Programme’ is to ensure that the Chinese visitor is warmly welcomed to Ireland and that tourism businesses are prepared and culturally aware of the requirements of our Chinese visitors.”
© 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.
