Italian travel professionals say ‘Ciao’ to Offaly

A group of travel professionals working with one of Italy’s leading tour operators, Boscolo Tours, enjoyed a fact-finding visit around Ireland – as guests of Tourism Ireland.

The aim of the visit was to really enthuse the travel agents about our superb tourism offering and to highlight some of our lesser-known attractions and experiences. The busy itinerary included Clonmacnoise followed by lunch in Luker’s Bar in Shannonbridge.

Italian travel agents with Elena Zenzocchi, Tourism Ireland (front, third right); and tour leader Massimiliano Pelli (front, second right), during their visit to Ireland.

Niamh Kinsella, Tourism Ireland’s Manager Italy, said: “We were delighted to invite representatives of Boscolo Tours to visit Co Offaly and Ireland. Their visit was a really good opportunity to showcase our superb tourism offering and to really enthuse the travel agents about selling holidays to Ireland. 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 Offaly and Ireland in 2020.”

In 2018, we welcomed 384,000 Italian visitors to the island of Ireland.

Niamh Kinsella continued: “Tourism Ireland has been undertaking an extensive and targeted programme of promotional activity in Italy throughout 2019 – to continue to grow Italian visitor numbers and, in particular, to encourage more Italians to explore our regions and less-visited attractions, during the off-peak season.”