A group of influential tour operators from the Middle East visited Donegal this week as part of a fact finding mission to Ireland. The group were invited by Tourism Ireland in Dubai in conjunction with Failte Ireland. The Middle Eastern tour operators were here to experience firsthand some of what Donegal had to offer to holiday makers from the gulf countries.
The aim of the trip was to encourage the visiting operators to feature Donegal and Ireland as a new destination in their programmes or to extend the Irish content to their existing programmes.
The tour operators stayed in the Arnolds Hotel in Dunfanaghy and during their time in Donegal they enjoyed an afternoon of horse riding on Kilahoey beach. Amanda Burns from Tourism Ireland Asia said “We are delighted that these influential tour operators have had the opportunity to experience for themselves the tourism product on offer in this part of Ireland. While we are working hard in traditional tourism, Tourism Ireland is also very active in markets like the gulf states to raise the profile of Ireland as a premier holiday destination, highlighting the visa waiver scheme introduced by the government earlier this year which made it easier for tourists from emerging tourist markets to visit Ireland.”
Visitors from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) often travel in large family groups and the mid to high income population like to holiday twice per year. They usually favour Malaysia, Turkey and London as holiday destinations.
Sinead Grace also from Tourism Ireland said “For many of the Middle East tour operators this was their first visit to Ireland and they were extremely impressed by the spectacular scenery, the wealth of historical attractions as well as by the hospitality and friendliness of the people they met.” The visitors also enjoyed a walking tour of the area with local tour guide Brendan Rohan.
Failte Ireland has invested over 500,000 euro in the walking product in Sligo over the last few years and there are plans to further develop the walking product around the country. Paul Mcloone head of operations for the north west said “Walking is an integral part of the development of tourism in Sligo and the launch of the ‘Sligo Walking Guide’ is a significant milestone in the designation of the county as a top class tourism walking destination. There are now 33 designated walks in the county.”
The new guide publication dedicated to walks in Sligo covering the town, upland, looped coastal and forest walks was launched this week by Michael Ring TD minister of State for Transport, Tourism and Sport. This is the first publication dedicated to the walking product of Sligo and provides information on a range of walks to suit everyone. The minister said “This is a great addition to aid the promotion of Sligo and the surrounding area as a tourist destination and with more and more visitors coming to take part in the outdoor activities, it represents a lucrative market.
Minister Ring also announced the 2011 Outdoor Adventure and Activity Forum is taking place next month in Westport. Forty overseas tour operators interested in programming activity holidays in Ireland will be taken on trips showcasing what Ireland has to offer for an adventure packed holiday. Research has shown that those interested in an activity packed holiday spend 40 per cent more than the average visitor. Research has also shown that 43 per cent of Europeans would like to try a soft adventure holiday for their next trip.
Trevor White, Director of the initiative ‘City of a Thousand Welcomes’, which teams up Dubliners who are passionate about their city with tourists, told The Epoch Times: “This initiative is proving to be an overwhelming success, it was voted one of the three best things to do while in Europe by the Sydney Morning Herald. The short term goal is to give visitors a really positive impression of Dublin. Before they come over they sign up online and when they arrive they are teamed up with their Dublin ambassador in our offices in St Stephens Green.”
The aim of the trip was to encourage the visiting operators to feature Donegal and Ireland as a new destination in their programmes or to extend the Irish content to their existing programmes.
The tour operators stayed in the Arnolds Hotel in Dunfanaghy and during their time in Donegal they enjoyed an afternoon of horse riding on Kilahoey beach. Amanda Burns from Tourism Ireland Asia said “We are delighted that these influential tour operators have had the opportunity to experience for themselves the tourism product on offer in this part of Ireland. While we are working hard in traditional tourism, Tourism Ireland is also very active in markets like the gulf states to raise the profile of Ireland as a premier holiday destination, highlighting the visa waiver scheme introduced by the government earlier this year which made it easier for tourists from emerging tourist markets to visit Ireland.”
Visitors from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) often travel in large family groups and the mid to high income population like to holiday twice per year. They usually favour Malaysia, Turkey and London as holiday destinations.
Sinead Grace also from Tourism Ireland said “For many of the Middle East tour operators this was their first visit to Ireland and they were extremely impressed by the spectacular scenery, the wealth of historical attractions as well as by the hospitality and friendliness of the people they met.” The visitors also enjoyed a walking tour of the area with local tour guide Brendan Rohan.
Failte Ireland has invested over 500,000 euro in the walking product in Sligo over the last few years and there are plans to further develop the walking product around the country. Paul Mcloone head of operations for the north west said “Walking is an integral part of the development of tourism in Sligo and the launch of the ‘Sligo Walking Guide’ is a significant milestone in the designation of the county as a top class tourism walking destination. There are now 33 designated walks in the county.”
The new guide publication dedicated to walks in Sligo covering the town, upland, looped coastal and forest walks was launched this week by Michael Ring TD minister of State for Transport, Tourism and Sport. This is the first publication dedicated to the walking product of Sligo and provides information on a range of walks to suit everyone. The minister said “This is a great addition to aid the promotion of Sligo and the surrounding area as a tourist destination and with more and more visitors coming to take part in the outdoor activities, it represents a lucrative market.
Minister Ring also announced the 2011 Outdoor Adventure and Activity Forum is taking place next month in Westport. Forty overseas tour operators interested in programming activity holidays in Ireland will be taken on trips showcasing what Ireland has to offer for an adventure packed holiday. Research has shown that those interested in an activity packed holiday spend 40 per cent more than the average visitor. Research has also shown that 43 per cent of Europeans would like to try a soft adventure holiday for their next trip.
Trevor White, Director of the initiative ‘City of a Thousand Welcomes’, which teams up Dubliners who are passionate about their city with tourists, told The Epoch Times: “This initiative is proving to be an overwhelming success, it was voted one of the three best things to do while in Europe by the Sydney Morning Herald. The short term goal is to give visitors a really positive impression of Dublin. Before they come over they sign up online and when they arrive they are teamed up with their Dublin ambassador in our offices in St Stephens Green.”
