The visit was organised and coordinated by Heritage Island, the leading marketing organisation for Ireland’s premier attractions and heritage towns.
The tour operating companies represented included Abbey Tours, Vagabond Tours, Irish Welcome Tours, Jac Travel, CIE Tours, Brendan Vacations, Irish Coaches and Brack Travel.
Visitor attractions represented on the visit included Glasnevin Cemetery Museum, Guinness Storehouse, Airfield Estate, EPIC – The Irish Emigration Museum, Armagh City, Cobh Heritage Centre, Powerscourt House & Gardens, Dublinia, Christ Church Cathedral, Kilkenny Medieval Mile Museum and House of Waterford Crystal. For them it was an opportunity to experience other attractions and network with each other, exchanging business ideas.
The Familiarisation Trip highlighted what Belleek Pottery along with many other Northern Ireland attractions have to offer both group tours and independent visitors alike, offering a very attractive alternative to the more frequently visited destinations, including some more ‘high profile’ heritage sites such as Glasnevin Cemetery Museum, Titanic, Belfast, S.S Nomadic, Navan Centre & Fort – Emain Macha, Armagh Cider Company, Ulster American Folk Park, Marble Arch Caves and Enniskillen Castle.
The operators were particularly impressed with the warmth of welcome they received in Belleek Pottery.
Caroline Rice, Executive Director with Heritage Island commented that ‘ the Fam Trip was a great success, and some tour operators indicated that, having now experienced what is on offer first hand, they would be happy to put more emphasis on this part of the country in their future itineraries.”
The attractions visited throughout this trip are featured in Ireland’s Premier Attractions and Heritage Towns Touring Guide, published by Heritage Island, and distributed throughout Ireland in key visitor locations and overseas at trade shows and via Tourism Ireland.
