A total of 13 British coach and group tour operators have been exploring Ireland’s Ancient East – as guests of Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland.
They are here to attend a workshop in the Newpark Hotel in Kilkenny, where they’re meeting with local tourism enterprises to negotiate for their 2024 programmes.
The tour operators are also taking part in a fact-finding visit, to experience for themselves the high standard and variety of our tourism offering.
Their action-packed programme includes a tour of Kilkenny with Kilkenny Road Train Tours, a cruise along the River Suir and visits to Powerscourt Estate, Powerscourt Distillery, Beyond the Trees Avondale, Kilkenny Design Centre and Mount Congreve House and Gardens. They will also visit Waterford Treasures: Medieval Museum, Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience, Newbridge Silverware Visitor Centre, Irish National Stud & Gardens, Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park and Airfield Estate.
Julie Wakley, Tourism Ireland’s Head of Great Britain, said: “Tourism Ireland was delighted to invite these leading British tour operators to Ireland’s Ancient East, to see and experience some of our many visitor attractions and to encourage them to extend the Ireland content of their existing programmes and itineraries, or to include Ireland for the first time in their 2024 programmes.
“Tourism Ireland is rolling out an extensive programme of promotional activity in Britain this autumn – highlighting compelling reasons to visit Ireland, as well as showing how easy it is to get here and the good value available from our industry partners. Our autumn campaign aims to take advantage of late booking trends, as there is still plenty of business to play for. One of our key objectives is to drive more business to our regions, right throughout the off-peak and shoulder season months.”
