Representatives of American travel agents at the Dún na mBó viewpoint in Erris, along Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way. Photo: Eamon O'Boyle

Luxury US tour operators to grow business to Ireland

EIGHT top American travel agents, representing high end luxury tour operators Cox & Kings, Los Angeles, Avanti Destinations, Portland, and Friendly Planet, Pennsylvania, are in Ireland to learn more about Fáilte Ireland’s three major tourism brands: the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s Ancient East, and Dublin – A Breath of Fresh Air.

The tailored visit has been designed to promote Ireland to high end travellers from the US market and is hosted and managed by Fáilte Ireland in collaboration with Tourism Ireland.

The buyers represent some of the most influential high end tour operators in the US who have expressed an interest in growing their business into Ireland, maximising opportunities around the new air routes available.

Together with creating a bespoke itinerary for the buyers, Fáilte Ireland will host a networking evening with a number of Irish tourism businesses in Mayo (Mount Falcon Estate, Ballina) and in Kildare (Barberstown Castle, Straffan), giving them an opportunity to meet and discuss business to learn more about new Irish tourism initiatives via a presentation from Fáilte Ireland.

Fáilte Ireland have designed a bespoke itinerary for the buyers to immerse themselves in, with highlights in Mayo including a guided walk of Erris Head with Agatha Hurst, Belmullet, a tour of Westport House, a site visit at Ashford Castle and The Lodge at Ashford, Cong, and at Mount Falcon Estate, Ballina.

Ciara Sugrue, Fáilte Ireland’s head of international publicity, explained: “The US market is an important market for Ireland and we are delighted to welcome these tour operators. With new routes direct from Dublin to the US announced in recent years, these influential and key decision makers have the capacity to deliver significant amounts of visitors to Ireland and their presence here is testament to Ireland’s appeal as a destination.”