A group of leading travel writers from the Pearl River Delta region in southern China have been visiting Ireland as guests of Tourism Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism NI. They flew to Dublin on the new Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong – the first ever direct flight from the Asia-Pacific region to Ireland, which was launched last month.
Above are the Chinese travel writers with tour guide Min Lin Siew (left) and Vanessa Yang, Tourism Ireland (second left), at the Cliffs of Moher.
Representing a range of print and online publications, the journalists have a combined audience of over 7.3 million readers. The aim of their visit is to highlight the new flight and ease of access from southern China to Ireland to their readers, as well as some of the many things to see and do here on a holiday.
Their busy programme included Kildare Village, the Guinness Storehouse, the Cliffs of Moher and a walking tour of Galway city. They also enjoyed visits to the Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark, Titanic Belfast, St George’s Market, Belfast City Hall, Queen’s University and the Ulster Museum.
James Kenny, Tourism Ireland’s Manager China, said: “Tourism Ireland was delighted to invite these influential travel writers from southern China to visit the island of Ireland, to experience for themselves some of the many great things to see and do here. Visits like this are an invaluable part of our overall promotional programme, helping to get positive exposure for Ireland through the media in China.
“China is the largest outbound travel market in the world and one that Tourism Ireland is committed to growing over the coming years. In 2017, we welcomed an estimated 70,000 Chinese visitors to the island of Ireland; the introduction of the new direct flight from Hong Kong is a major game-changer and offers a real opportunity for us to build on this number. We look forward to working with Cathay Pacific to maximise the promotion of, and drive demand for, this new service. We are confident that we are in a strong position to grow this emerging travel market in 2018 and over the coming years.”
In 2017, we welcomed an estimated 70,000 Chinese visitors to the island of Ireland. Tourism Ireland aims to grow Chinese visitor numbers to 175,000 per year, by 2025 (+150% on 2017).
Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Fermanagh, Derry and Tyrone are counties of outstanding beauty, history and heritage when visiting Ireland. It was fantastic to see so many Chinese visitors on my visit to Sliabh Liag in Co Donegal last Sunday – which many now rate as being even more majestic than the Cliffs of Moher…