President Michael D Higgins and Sabina Higgins were the guests of honour at a business luncheon hosted by Tourism Ireland in Sydney earlier today (Friday October 20). The President met with leading representatives of the Australian travel industry, including tour operators, airlines and travel journalists.
President Higgins is currently undertaking a state visit to Australia and New Zealand. The visit to Australia is focused on deepening and expanding Ireland’s bilateral ties with Australia and on highlighting aspects of the two countries’ shared history, and is aimed at strengthening economic, tourism, cultural and political links between the two nations.
At the Tourism Ireland event, President Higgins delivered a speech highlighting the historical connection between Australia and Ireland. He spoke about Ireland’s tourism industry and the relationship between the visitor and the visited, and how Ireland is dedicated to looking after both.
Since the President’s arrival in Australia, he has also met with Irish communities in Perth, Melbourne, Hobart, Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane, as well as key representatives of the worlds of business, tourism, sport, academia, culture and the arts.
Sofia Hansson, Tourism Ireland’s manager for Australia and New Zealand, said, “The President’s visit is highlighting Ireland’s ancestral and cultural ties with Australia. Australia offers significant potential for tourism to the island of Ireland. In 2016, we welcomed more than 200,000 visitors from Australia and New Zealand. Tourism Ireland is determined to ensure that success continues and we have an extensive programme of promotions under way in Australia this autumn aimed at boosting late-season travel to Ireland and at positioning us well for 2018.”
