The Ireland’s Association for Adventure Tourism conference has concluded at Knockranny House Hotel with 220 delegates attending.
The event, supported by Mayo County Council, Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland, and Tourism NI, drew buyers from Germany, Italy, and Great Britain to meet Irish activity providers. Networking continued into the night with a tourism showcase that featured demonstrations from regional operators and live entertainment. Delegates exchanged contacts and explored potential collaborations amid the growing demand for experience-led holidays.
Delegates participatied in a series of outdoor activities across the morning and afternoon in advance of the conference. Operators from domestic and international locations joined local providers for experiences that showcased Mayo’s offerings in climbing, hiking, and water-based pursuits.
The theme of Imbas, drawn from Irish traditions of drawing knowledge from the natural environment, guided conversations on operational matters.
The conference addressed pressures such as rising costs for energy and insurance, alongside shifts in visitor preferences towards sustainable and accessible options, Sponsors including Newry Mourne and Down District Council and Portwest contributed to the programme through exhibition spaces.
Speakers included Alice Mansergh, chief executive of Tourism Ireland, and Paul Keeley, director of regional development at Fáilte Ireland.
Other contributors comprised Jean Yves Lapeyrere, president of the European Confederation of Outdoor Employers, and Eimear Callaghan, head of experience and industry development at Tourism NI. Local figures such as Joanne Grehan, director of services at Mayo County Council, joined the lineup to discuss regional infrastructure. The sessions were moderated by Pól Ó Conghaile, travel editor of the Irish Independent.
The B2B component aimed to secure contracts worth several thousand euro in the coming year. Evening feedback highlighted the role of adventure activities in complementing self-catering sectors, which account for more than 40pc of tourism beds nationwide and which face a threat from government legislation directed at shifting rental accommodation from short term to long term options.
