Fáilte Ireland has hailed 2019 as a bumper year for international media coming to Ireland.
The tourism authority, in collaboration with Tourism Ireland, showcased the country to over 800 key travel journalists from more than 20 countries. The combined audience reach of the international media hosted by Fáilte Ireland was 1.2Billion in 2019.
Fáilte Ireland co-ordinated over 350 different itineraries resulting in the journalists meeting with over 7,000 Irish businesses across the country.
In Donegal, media trips in 2019 included German journalists alpaca trekking with Wild Alpaca Way in Malin Head and US golf writers and broadcasters visiting Cruit Island Golf Club, Donegal Golf Club, Narin and Portnoo Golf Links.
German Tourism journalists on an Alpaca trek during their visit to Donegal’s Wild Atlantic Way. (North West Newspix)
Visiting media and local players at Cruit Island – July 2019. Photo Clive Wasson
Liam Campbell, Manager of Fáilte Ireland’s International Publicity division with Fáilte Ireland stressed the importance for tourism of hosting international media:
“Bringing international media to Ireland and showing them what is on offer plays an integral role in ensuring that we get our message out there – Ireland is a must-see place to visit. Whether it is high profile trips for St Patrick’s Festival or tailored tours of the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s Ancient East or Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, this work generates the type of international audience reach and publicity that any competitive destination needs to sustain tourism growth.”
One of the key highlights of the year included the TravelZoo live broadcasts to key television networks across America and PBS Travelscope filming with a combined reach of 290 million at the inaugural Púca Halloween Festival from Trim Castle. And for the first time the hugely influential NBC Golf Channel broadcasted live from the Irish Open at Lahinch which was watched by millions of viewers across the US.
Looking ahead to 2020, Fáilte Ireland said they will once again be working closely with Tourism Ireland to attract influential and engaging media.
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