Welcoming the recent announcement that Ireland topped the poll as the “World’s Friendliest Country” in a survey by Lonely Planet, Tourism Ireland states that findings of recent consumer research undertaken by the organisation also endorses this. The research was carried out as part of Tourism Ireland’s major review of the island of Ireland brand. To capitalise on this accolade, the largest contingent ever from the tourism industry on the island of Ireland is kicking off its 2008 marketing campaign overseas, at the World Travel Market (WTM) in London, this week.
World Travel Market (WTM) – now in its 28th year – is the largest trade event in the
global tourism calendar year, and the international travel industry’s premier business-to-business forum, with an estimated attendance of 50,000 representatives of the industry, representing over 200 countries this year. According to the organisers, over £28 billion’s worth of business was transacted at the event last year.
Over 125 members of the tourism industry from the island of Ireland, representing 58 companies, are based at the Tourism Ireland stand, which was also visited by Tourism Minister, Séamus Brennan TD, and by Stephen Quinn, Permanent Secretary representing Nigel Dodds, OBE MP MLA, Minister for Enterprise Trade and Investment for Northern Ireland.
Minister Brennan said: “The Tourism Ireland stand at the World Travel Market provides a focal point at this massive exhibition for the tourism industry on the island of Ireland to negotiate and exchange vital contracts, source new products and services, learn about the latest worldwide industry developments and avail of the excellent networking opportunities that a gathering on the scale of this world event offers. We are now in a position to enthusiastically market and promote the island of Ireland as a tourist destination that has something to offer most holidaymakers.”
While the monetary value of the business conducted at WTM is difficult to estimate, the networking opportunities afforded to tourism enterprises by having a presence there are invaluable. This is the largest ever industry representation on the Tourism Ireland stand, which is very welcome and essential in the highly competitive global marketplace.
Latest Central Statistics Office (CSO) statistics for the first eight months of the year show a total 5.3 million overseas visitors to the Republic Ireland, up 4.5% on last year, which was a record year for tourism. Mainland Europe continues to be the star performer maintaining double digit growth of +15% in the first eight month period. The lucrative North American market is up +3.5% while British holidaymakers are up +3% for the first six months of 2007 in an otherwise flat year. While official figures for 2007 are not yet available for Northern Ireland, sentiment from the industry is very upbeat, with positive indicators in particular for holidaymaker growth.
-ENDS-
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Sinéad Grace, Tourism Ireland: 087 6859027
Mary McCarthy/Louise Cassidy Weber Shandwick FCC Tel: 01 676 0168