Ten influential journalists and an acclaimed cookbook writer from Sweden stopped off in Athlone earlier this week, as part of a gastronomy-themed visit to Co Westmeath and Ireland. They were here as guests of Tourism Ireland and Bord Bia.
Representing various online and print publications with a combined circulation of almost 770,000 readers around Sweden, the journalists were here to experience at first hand our world-famous Irish hospitality and the high standard of gastronomy on offer here for feature stories they are planning to write about short breaks and ‘foodie’ holidays in Ireland. One of the highlights of their itinerary, designed by Fáilte Ireland, was dinner at Wineport Lodge in Glasson.
Caroline Brunel, Tourism Ireland’s manager for the Nordic region, said: “Food is an integral part of any short break or holiday and we know that our Swedish visitors enjoy authentic, locally produced food. Fact-finding visits such as this are extremely important in helping to increase awareness in Sweden of the superb food and tourism product on offer in Co Westmeath and around Ireland. The publicity value of the articles these journalists will write is fantastic - they will be read by almost 770,000 potential holidaymakers - and we are confident that this will encourage readers and ‘foodies’ to come and sample the destination for themselves.”
