Tourism Ireland targets India
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Tourism Ireland’s CEO made his first visit to India this month, as the tourism board ramps up its promotional efforts in the country.
Niall Gibbons travelled to India to meet the country’s travel trade, and to announce Tourism Ireland’s sponsorship of the Irish cricket teams for the upcoming ICC T20 Cricket World Cup, which kicks off in India on 8 March.
The Tourism Ireland logo will be displayed on the kits of both the men and women’s teams, providing exposure for Ireland in the Indian market.
“Sport-related tourism has emerged as a very significant element in world tourism in recent years,” said Gibbons. “Our sponsorship of the team in this year’s ICC T20 Cricket World Cup offers us a superb opportunity to highlight the island of Ireland.
“It’s wonderful for us to be involved in a sport that has such a wide appeal in India and we look forward to connecting and communicating with a wide audience of cricket fans,” he added.
Gibbons also noted that Ireland has seen a 25% increase in visitor arrivals from India “over the last few years”, and said he expects this trend to continue. This growth has been fuelled by the recently-launched British-Irish Visa Scheme which makes it easier for tourists to visit both Ireland and the UK in a single trip.
In addition, Indian travellers now have increased air access to Ireland via the Middle East, through Etihad Airways’ and Emirates’ flights to Dublin.
In 2016, Tourism Ireland will be engaging with the Indian travel trade and media through fam trips, workshops and seminars, as well as through the ‘Ireland Specialists’ online travel trade training programme.
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