Amy Riddell, Tourism Ireland; Cathy Cowan and Aisling Arnold, both Arnolds Hotel; football legend Packie Bonner; Sarah Meehan, Donegal Tourism; and Fionn Davenport, Lonely Planet, at Tourism Ireland’s Celtic Connections workshop in Glasgow.
FORMER Republic of Ireland goalkeeper and Burtonport native Packie Bonner has teamed up with Tourism Ireland to promote Donegal in Scotland.
Packie travelled over to Glasgow recently as part of a delegation which included representatives from Donegal Tourism, Abbey Hotel, The Central Hotel, The Nesbitt Arms Hotel, Mount Errigal Hotel, Arnolds Hotel, Villa Rose Hotel, Jackson’s Hotel and Redcastle Oceanfront Golf & Spa Hotel.
This was a workshop and networking event with key Scottish travel professionals including tour operators and travel agents, as well as local travel and lifestyle journalists.
Julie Wakley, Tourism Ireland’s Head of Great Britain said since the UK referendum on Brexit, Tourism Ireland has been closely monitoring developments in the British outbound travel market.
Ms Walkey said: “As our nearest neighbour and our largest market for overseas tourism, Britain remains a priority for us; it delivers 47% of all overseas visitors and around 30% of all overseas tourism revenue. The depreciation of sterling against the euro means that value for money will continue to be a key message for us in Britain this year. Throughout 2018, Tourism Ireland will work with our industry partners to highlight the ease of getting to the island of Ireland.”
The workshop and networking event was timed to coincide with Celtic Connections, Scotland’s premier winter music festival.
“Music and culture are key components of the holiday experience in Ireland, so platforms like Celtic Connections help us to spread the word about the island of Ireland as a premier destination with an appealing cultural offering. Our message is that there has never been a better time for Scottish holidaymakers to come and see that for themselves.”