Chinese media and travel trade explore Ireland following inaugural Shanghai to Dublin flight

A 12-person media and travel trade delegation from China visited Ireland this week, as guests of China Eastern Airlines, Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland. The group arrived on the inaugural flight of the new Shanghai to Dublin service, operated by China Eastern Airlines. 

The travel trade’s itinerary included Causey Farm, Birr Castle Demesne, the Burren and Cliffs of Moher, as well as the Galway International Arts Festival. A jaunting car trip to Ross Castle in Killarney, a ‘Foal to Fame’ tour at Kildangan Stud and some retail therapy at Kildare Village completed their visit.  

The media group – which included a mix of online outlets and content creators with a combined reach of millions across China – began their visit in Dublin with visits to Malahide Castle, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, St Patrick’s Cathedral, the Guinness Storehouse and Book of Kells Experience at Trinity College. Powerscourt Estate, Glendalough and the Irish National Stud & Gardens also featured on their itinerary. 

Iris Wang, Tourism Ireland’s Manager Asia, said: “We are delighted to welcome this important group of Chinese travel professionals and media to Ireland this week, to experience some of our superb tourism offering. As an island destination, convenient, competitive and direct access is critical to tourism growth, so this new service between Shanghai and Dublin represents a valuable opportunity to grow visitor numbers from China and the Asia-Pacific region.”  

The new China Eastern Airlines service between Shanghai and Dublin will run three times weekly and add approximately 45,000 seats annually. As well as this week’s media and travel trade familiarisation visits, Tourism Ireland is undertaking co-operative marketing with China Eastern Airlines, which will build awareness of, and stimulate demand for, the new service, through high-impact outdoor advertising, as well as ads on WeChat Moments and targeted digital promotions.