French tourism leaders visit Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands

Members of Tourism Ireland’s French Marketing Partnership Group (MPG) have been visiting Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands. The MPG is made up of leading French tour operators, online travel agencies (OTAs), as well as air and sea carriers, and is the official vehicle for Tourism Ireland to consult with its key tourism partners in France. 

The visit was an excellent opportunity for Tourism Ireland to showcase Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands to the senior travel representatives from France who make up the MPG. Their programme included a walking tour of Killaloe and a Killaloe river cruise, as well as visits to Brookfield Farm near Coolbawn, Birr Castle Demesne and Tullamore D.E.W. Distillery.

Tourism Ireland has a strong focus on driving more business to the regions of Ireland this year. Activity includes its ‘twinning’ initiative – with each overseas market ‘twinning’ with a specific part of Ireland, to accelerate the organisation’s focus on regional growth of tourism revenue. France is ‘twinned’ with the southern part of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands.

Ana Luis, Tourism Ireland’s Business Partnership Manager – France, said: “We were delighted to welcome members of our French Marketing Partnership Group for an immersive and experiential session about the potential ahead in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands. Seeing is believing – so visits like this are extremely important to continue to build awareness of Ireland and our excellent tourism offering among key French travel trade partners.”