Journalists from some of France’s leading daily newspapers have completed a three-day visit to counties Clare and Galway.The trip was organised by Tourism Ireland, in conjunction with Shannon Development, in an effort to promote the region as an attractive holiday destination to the Continental tourist market. During their visit the twenty-four Editors of various provincial titles travelled to Bunratty, the Cliffs Of Moher, the Burren, Galway City and Connemara before returning to France. The Mayor of Clare Councillor Madeleine Taylor Quinn met with the media entourage following their arrival into Ireland through Shannon Airport on Friday.
Commenting on the visit the Mayor said that the drop-off in visitors from the highly lucrative North American market had made it even more fundamental that the Continental market be targeted. “There is good reason to promote the West of Ireland to the French tourist market as both Ryanair and Air France provide direct flights from Shannon to Nantes, Carcassone, Paris-Beauvais and Paris Charles De Gaulle International Airport. The decline in visitor numbers from other overseas markets means that tourism bodies in the Shannon Region must now target their promotional efforts in Britain and Continental Europe”, she commented.
Mayor Taylor Quinn expressed her hope that the visit would inspire many of the travelling journalists to report on their experiences in their respective publications. . She added, “The purpose of the French media’s visit was to showcase the impressive range of visitor products, activities and accommodation awaiting French holidaymakers who come to the Shannon Region. I have no doubt that members of the travelling delegation will now highlight the region as a must see location. This is especially exciting as each of the newspapers represented by the travelling media delegation has an average of between 200,000 and 800,0000 readers every day”
The Mayor suggested that tourism development agencies in France and the Shannon Region should now pursue a collaborative marketing effort that would bring lasting benefits to both markets. “There is no doubting the strong, enduring friendship that exists between Ireland and France. This relationship has existed for centuries and continues to the present day. Tourism promotional agencies in the Shannon Region should capitalise on these close ties by working with tourism bodies in France to forge a marketing alliance that can yield dividends for both France and the Shannon Region”, she stated. Mayor Taylor Quinn concluded by congratulating Tourism Ireland and Shannon Development on organising and facilitating the weekend visit.
