- Six US tour operators specialising in sustainable travel visited Ireland
- The visit was hosted by Tourism Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and TourismNI
- The itinerary included Kylemore Abbey, Killary Fjord and DK Connemara Oysters
- In the six counties, the group visited Lough Erne and Seamus Heaney HomePlace
- Site inspections were carried out at sustainable hotels including Castle Leslie Estate
Six tour operators from the United States, all specialists in sustainable travel, have been exploring Ireland as guests of Tourism Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and TourismNI. The visiting tour operators are important partners for Tourism Ireland, bringing American visitors to Ireland. Tourism Ireland aims to familiarise them with the tourism offering, with a focus on the sustainable tourism product and experiences, to ensure Ireland continues to feature prominently in their programmes.
The tour operators’ itinerary brought them across Ireland. It included The Shed Distillery and Kylemore Abbey, a Killary Fjord Boat Tour and an oyster farm tour with DK Connemara Oysters, as well as Ahascragh Distillery and a walking tour with Hidden Howth Experiences. In the six counties, the group’s itinerary included an Island Discovery cruise on Lough Erne, visits to Boatyard Distillery, Glenshane Country Farm and Seamus Heaney HomePlace, as well as a tasting session with NearyNógs Stoneground Chocolate.
During their time in Ireland, the tour operators carried out site inspections at hotels demonstrating a commitment to sustainable tourism, including Castle Leslie Estate, Lough Rynn Castle Estate and Gardens, Drumhierny Woodland Hideaway, The Grace, The Galmont Hotel and Spa, Iveagh Garden Hotel, Lough Erne Resort, Belmore Court and Motel, Finn Lough and Killeavy Castle Estate.
Alison Metcalfe shared “We’re delighted these influential US tour operators have taken the time to come and experience our sustainable tourism products and experiences, and to see for themselves what Ireland has to offer their clients. Seeing is believing and our aim is that when they return home, they will be even more enthusiastic about the destination, helping to secure a greater share of their business for Ireland in 2027 and beyond.”
