The promotion of Mayo as tourism destination was given another bump recently with Tourism Ireland arranged visits to the county for a major US tour operator and the Indian edition of the Lonely Plant Magazine which as 100,000 readers.
Representatives of Pleasant Holidays – one of the largest tour operators in the United States – together with five of its top-selling travel agents, have visited Mayo and the Wild Atlantic Way, as guests of Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland. Pleasant Holidays launched Ireland as a new destination in January of this year, so the aim of this visit was to give the travel agents the chance to experience some of Ireland’s superb tourism offering, to ensure that when they return home they will be even more enthusiastic – and better equipped – to advise their clients about holidaying here.
Their packed programme included a scenic drive to Westport, passing Croagh Patrick, as well as a cycle along the Great Western Greenway from Mulranny to Newport with Electric Escapes. The group stayed at Knockranny House Hotel.
Alison Metcalfe, Tourism Ireland’s head of North America, said: “Tourism Ireland was delighted to invite this group of travel professionals to visit Mayo and the Wild Atlantic Way. Fact-finding visits like this are an important element of our annual programme of activity with the travel trade in the United States, as the travel agents get to experience at first hand what’s on offer here for holidaymakers back home – helping them to sell the destination with more enthusiasm and expertise.”
100,000 Indians read about Mayo and the Wild Atlantic Way
A major 13-page article showcasing the Wild Atlantic Way appears in the latest edition of Lonely Planet magazine in India, profiling the western seaboard to some 100,000 readers – or potential Indian holidaymakers for Ireland. Lonely Planet is an extremely popular travel magazine in India, with about 100,000 readers. Tourism Ireland in India, in conjunction with Fáilte Ireland, invited journalist Anjuman Deodhar to visit last October. The resulting article appears in this month’s edition of the magazine, describing the “breathtaking road along Ireland’s western coast” and featuring beautiful photos of Westport. The author describes the town centre of Westport and its “beautiful tree-lined promenades” and says that “Matt Molloy’s has a traditional Irish music session most evenings and is worth visiting”. It also mentions the Greenway – “the longest dedicated walking and cycling trail in Ireland”
Beena Menon, Tourism Ireland India, said “We are delighted with the excellent coverage in this month’s Lonely Planet magazine. It’s a really good way of showcasing Mayo and the Wild Atlantic Way to a large audience of potential Indian visitors for Ireland. Publicity is an important element of our overall promotional programme, helping to raise awareness through the Indian media of the many things to see and do on a holiday on the island of Ireland.”
