Pictured during Tourism Ireland’s ‘Back in the USA’ sales blitz which took place in the Californian cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco and Irvine recently, is Paula Carroll, Ashford Castle near Cong (centre), with Geraldine Enright, Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience; Nora O’Meara, North Tipperary Genealogy Centre; Alison Metcalfe, Tourism Ireland; and Paul Mockler, Shannon Development.

A number of leading tourism representatives from around the island of Ireland participated in the ‘Back in the USA’ sales blitz. Their busy schedule included an ‘Experience a Flavor of Ireland’ business-to-business event in each of the three cities, where they met with key American travel trade such as carriers, tour operators and travel agents, as well as influential travel media contacts. The events provided an excellent opportunity for the participants to showcase their product to these important decision-makers and to encourage them to include the West, and the island of Ireland, in their future holiday programmes.

Joe Byrne, Tourism Ireland’s Executive Vice President North America, said: “North America is a very important market for tourism to the island of Ireland. Tourism Ireland has had a comprehensive promotional programme in place in the US throughout 2010, providing compelling reasons to visit and emphasising the convenience and value of a holiday here. It is absolutely essential that we convey the message that there has never been a better time for Americans to visit the island of Ireland.”