Tourism Ireland is visiting western Canada this week, showcasing the island of Ireland to travel agents in British Columbia and Alberta. A delegation of tourism enterprises from Ireland and Canadian partners are taking part in the targeted sales mission focusing on the cities of Vancouver, Langley, Edmonton and Calgary. The workshops involve partner organizations meeting, educating, and doing business with more than 250 travel agents in the region.
The sales mission is an opportunity for Tourism Ireland to highlight new and existing offerings on the island of Ireland to travel agents, ensuring they are enthusiastic and equipped to sell the destination to their clients. The west coast of Canada is an important source of visitors for the island of Ireland and this week’s sales blitz provides a valuable opportunity to highlight ease of access to Ireland (with direct flights from Vancouver and Calgary).
In addition, Tourism Ireland will roll out a new ‘twinning’ initiative in 2020 – which will see each overseas market ‘twinning with’ a specific region in Ireland. Canada will twin with the counties of Wicklow, Wexford, Waterford and Kilkenny, located in Ireland’s Ancient East this year – placing a special focus on all four counties including ease of access and product offerings.
Dana Welch, Manager, Tourism Ireland, Canada, said, “Canadians are highly valued in terms of holiday visitors and Canada is Tourism Ireland’s 5th largest source market for holiday revenue. Our aim is to continue to grow Canadian visitor numbers with our extensive program of high impact campaigns and promotions.
“Our sales mission to British Columbia and Alberta this week provides an excellent platform to meet with, and educate, agents as well as kickstart our promotional efforts highlighting the many great things to see and do around the island of Ireland. We really enjoy this opportunity to get out and meet with the agents and thank our travel trade partners across Canada – who continue to play a very important role in helping us to continue to grow visitor numbers to Ireland.”