Holiday makers are attracted to many things that Ireland has to offer, from the diverse culture and entertainment found in its vibrant capital cities, Dublin and Belfast, to the rural charm found in its villages. The island of Ireland is also famous for its welcoming culture and is often referred to as the ‘land of a thousand welcomes’.
Ireland’s capital city, Dublin, was named second friendliest city in the world by Lonely Plant in 2015 and has also appeared in their Top 10 to visit in 2016.
'We have an extensive programme of promotions in the GCC showcasing major new attractions such as Ireland’s Ancient East, which encompasses 5,000 years of history and the year’s signature events including Northern Ireland Year of Food 2016,' a spokesperson from Tourism Ireland tells TTN. 'Northern Ireland Year of Food and drink is a celebration of our world-class food and drink offering. This campaign shines the spotlight on our locally grown and reared food, artisan producers and bakers, chefs and restaurants.'
The island’s stunning natural scenery, its castles, picturesque lakes and mountains, as well as its outdoor activities including golf and all things equestrian, continue to be key drivers for tourism. Tourism Ireland has a diverse and exciting year-round events calendar, featuring everything from music, food and culture festivals, to special interest events like the Irish Open or the Irish Derby.
There’s always something new happening giving people compelling reasons to visit the island of Ireland.
SCREEN TOURISM
Screen tourism is also a huge drive in 2016. Most people know that ‘The Game of Thrones’ TV series is filmed in Northern Ireland, attracting visitors from across the world who want to see where the iconic scenes are set.
'We’ve been working with TV network HBO who have given us permission to use their logo in our adverts, which is very significant as they have a huge social media following and will help us further in attracting even more visitors. Equally exciting, was the filming of Episode 7 of the record-breaking movie franchise Star Wars which was released at the end of 2015. Unveiled in the film’s closing minutes, the ending to the movie was filmed on the iconic Skellig Michael Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located along the Wild Atlantic Way. We’re pleased to announce that we will continue to work closely with Lucas Film as they plan to film scenes for Star Wars Episode 8 on the island of Ireland which we anticipate will attract even more visitors,' says the spokesperson.
Last year, Tourism Ireland welcomed more than 8.6 million overseas visitors to Ireland, delivering revenue of about €4.2 billion ($4.68 billion). Tourism Ireland estimates that the island welcomed an estimated 55,000 visitors from the GCC, an increase of 10 per cent year-on-year. As one of our most important developing markets, the GCC is a key international source market for the island of Ireland.
IRELAND SPECIALISTS
'We are constantly updating our Ireland Specialists programme with the latest destination news and product information. This summer we will be updating the site to ensure it more user friendly and visual. The programme has been specifically designed for the travel trade to teach them about Ireland as a holiday destination. The online training takes users though all there is to see and do in Ireland and showcasing the very best of what the island of Ireland has to offer clients from the Middle East. There are six modules of questions to answer to become an Ireland Specialist. Each module focuses on various aspects of Ireland - About Ireland, Places to Go, Things to Do, Places to Stay, Events and What's new?
'Once travel trade have completed all six modules, there are two levels of certification they can achieve - Gold Ireland Specialist and Silver Ireland Specialist. All Gold Specialists will be entered into a draw to win a trip to Ireland this year on a Mega fam trip with winners from other markets.
'The Mega fam trip will take place in August and we will be selecting two Gold Specialists to represent the GCC.'