TOURISM INDUSTRY KICK-STARTS 2007 MARKETING DRIVE AT WORLD TRAVEL MARKET
Tourism enterprises from the island of Ireland, North and South, are strongly represented at the World Travel Market (WTM) in London this week, heralding the start of the promotional drive for the 2007 season by Tourism Ireland, the organisation responsible for marketing the island of Ireland overseas. WTM is the largest trade event in the global tourism calendar year with an estimated attendance of 50,000 representatives of the tourism trade representing over 200 countries this year.
Tourism Ireland is aiming to capitalise on the legacy of the Ryder Cup in its marketing activities next year and build on what has been a very successful year to date for Irish tourism. Latest CSO statistics for the first eight months of the year show a total 5.11 million overseas visitors to Ireland, up +10% on last year. All of Ireland's main tourism markets showed impressive growth rates compared to the first 8 months of 2005, with visitors from Britain up by 7%, Mainland Europe up over 19%, North America up by almost 10% and other long-haul routes up by almost 6%. The period September-December traditionally yields up to 30% annual business and with Ireland"s hosting of the Ryder Cup in September, Tourism Ireland is hopeful of a bumper year for Irish tourism.
This is the twenty-seventh year of the World Travel Market which is the international travel industry's premier business-to-business forum. Over 160 members of the tourism industry from the island of Ireland representing over sixty companies were based at the Ireland stand which was also visited by Tourism Minister, John O"Donoghue T.D. 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 according to Paul O"Toole, Chief Executive of Tourism Ireland.
"The Ireland stand at the World Travel Market which is hosted and resourced by Tourism Ireland, provides a focal point at this massive exhibition for the all-island trade to negotiate and exchange vital contracts, source new products and services, learn about the latest worldwide industry developments and av ail of excellent networking opportunities. We have the largest ever industry representation on our stand this year which is very welcome and essential in the highly competitive global marketplace" he said.
Tourism Ireland"s television ad campaign, currently running on TV stations across Great Britain is working well for Irish tourism. The ad campaign has been listed in Marketing Magazine"s Adwatch column as one of the top 20 most recalled ads by British TV viewers, along with high profile brands such as L"Oreal, McDonalds and Coca-Cola. The 30 second Tourism Ireland TV ads encourage viewers to "Discover Your Very Own Ireland" as well as highlighting Ireland as home to the 2006 Ryder Cup. The organisation also picked up the prestigious ATLAS Award for Best Branding for an International Destination for 2006 presented by the Association of Travel Marketing Executives in the US.
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For further info: Fiona Scott, Media & Public Relations Manager: Tourism Ireland
Tel: 01-476-3429