Italian Travel Agents Find Offaly ‘Eccellente’!

Representatives of one of Italy’s leading tour operators, Francorosso, together with 20 of its top-producing travel agents, are visiting Offaly and Ireland’s Ancient East – as guests of Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland.

The group is here on a fact-finding visit, to sample at first-hand the superb experiences on offer in Offaly and Ireland’s Ancient East. The aim of the visit is to familiarise the travel agents with Ireland, so that when they return home they will be even better informed to advise their clients when planning and booking their holidays.

Catherine Jameson, Tourism Ireland (second left), tour guide Valaria Betti-Walker (third left) and Italian travel agents, during their fact-finding visit to Ireland.

One of the highlights of the group’s time here was a guided tour of the monastic site of Clonmacnoise.

“Italy is an important market for tourism to the island of Ireland and visits like this are a key element of the work that Tourism Ireland undertakes each year with the travel trade in Italy,” said Niamh Kinsella, Tourism Ireland’s Manager Italy. “There really is no substitute for being able to come here and experience what Ireland has to offer at first-hand; our aim is to enthuse the travel agents about the destination, so that when they return home, they are better equipped to advise their clients on future travel plans.

“2017 was the best year ever for tourism from Italy to Ireland, when we welcomed around 363,300 Italian visitors, up +5.5% on 2016. Tourism Ireland is determined to ensure that success continues and the organisation has an extensive programme of promotions under way in Italy in 2018.”