Over 45 Irish tourism businesses from across the country including Clare pitched for business to a group of 16 Coach & Group Tour Operators from Great Britain, at a workshop this week held at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Meelick, Co Clare.
The event, organised by Fáilte Ireland in association with Tourism Ireland, saw Irish businesses hold one-to-one meetings encouraging these influential overseas operators, to promote Ireland to their clients for the 2025 travel season.
Coach and group tour visitors are crucial to the distribution of tourists around Ireland, particularly in the off-season where these visitors tend to spend longer and see more of the country than those on city breaks. The workshop aimed to help maintain some current relationships and forge new ones with the Irish Industry, leading to future business in 2025 and beyond.
Commenting on the importance of the workshop and networking event, Paul Mockler, Head of Commercial Development, Fáilte Ireland, said: “We are pleased that these important overseas travel operators have chosen to come to Ireland as they start planning for their 2025 season and beyond. These overseas agents have the capacity to deliver a significant number of visitors to Ireland and their presence here is a testimony to Ireland’s appeal as a destination.
Sales events such as this are very effective for Irish business, allowing them to make direct contact with multiple travel agents and overseas buyers in one day.”
To further showcase Ireland, Fáilte Ireland has put together a customised itinerary giving the travelling agents first-hand experience of some of what Ireland has to offer. During the trips they will experience the historical and cultural assets of Ireland’s Ancient East, and the varied adventures available along the Wild Atlantic Way.
