A group of over twenty top tour operators from Canada were in Galway this week to meet and do business with over seventy key Irish tourism businesses from across the country.
Representatives from Clare such as Gregans Castle Hotel, Shannon Heritage, Secret Ireland Escapes, Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre and Bill O’Brien The Doolin Ferry Company, attended a workshop held in The Meyrick Hotel.
The operators attended a sales workshop, Canadian Expo focusing on attracting more overseas visitors from key markets such as Canada. The workshop provided a cost and time effective business opportunity for the Irish tourism businesses to meet buyers and engage in one-to-one sales meetings to either make initial contact or maintain already established business relationships.
Speaking at the workshop, Ciara Sugrue, Head of Trade and Promotions, Fáilte Ireland said: “The Canadian market is an important market for Ireland, in 2015, over 165,000 Canadian tourists visited Ireland spending an estimated €133 million, With new routes direct from Dublin to Canada announced in recent years, these influential travel agents have the capacity to deliver significant amounts of visitors to Ireland and their presence here is testament to Ireland’s appeal as a destination.”
To further showcase what Ireland has to offer, bespoke itineraries were provided by Fáilte Ireland giving an opportunity for the Canadian buyers to experience accommodation, dining, entertainment, visitor attractions options during the course of their stay giving them context when meeting with the Irish Industry during the workshop.