Tourism Ireland Targets US Growth with Four-City Sales Blitz, Showcasing their Best to American Travel Agents, Boosting Tourism for 2026 and Beyond

Tourism Ireland is promoting the growth of tourism business from the US market with a large sales mission in four cities, with the aim of encouraging more visitors from America to come to the island in 2026 and beyond. The ‘Best of Ireland’ sales mission is currently visiting major cities in the US, including Houston, Los Angeles, Portland, and Seattle. The sales mission is being carried out in collaboration with 14 Irish tourism businesses and four US tour operators.

Driving Tourism Growth Through Direct Engagement

The mission includes B2B events and interactive presentations, where the Irish delegation promotes the island’s iconic landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture to US travel agents. Hundreds of commercial meetings are taking place, aiming to increase the visibility of Ireland as a premier destination for US travelers. This direct engagement with travel professionals is designed to encourage more US-based agents to feature Ireland in their future travel programs, fostering long-term tourism growth.

Alison Metcalfe, Tourism Ireland’s Head of North America, noted that the mission is a valuable opportunity to inform and inspire US travel agents, allowing them to better understand Ireland’s appeal and recommend it to their clients. She emphasized the mission’s role in tourism growth by strengthening partnerships between Irish tourism providers and US travel agents.

Strengthening the US-Ireland Tourism Partnership

The ‘Best of Ireland’ sales mission plays a crucial role in fostering a stronger US-Ireland tourism partnership. By connecting US travel agents with Irish suppliers, the mission aims to encourage more American tourists to visit the island. The US market remains one of the largest sources of visitors to Ireland, and increasing the number of US travelers is key to sustaining the tourism growth that Ireland has enjoyed in recent years.

As Alison Metcalfe pointed out, this initiative is not just about promoting Ireland as a destination, but also about building long-lasting relationships with US travel agents to ensure they continue to include Ireland in their future travel programs, further boosting the tourism sector’s growth.

Record Number of US Flights to Ireland to Support Growth

In support of this initiative, Tourism Ireland also highlights the growing ease of access for American tourists with direct flights from a record 23 US gateways this summer. These expanded flight routes will make it easier than ever for US travelers to visit Ireland, contributing to the projected tourism growth in the coming years.

Increased air connectivity and ease of travel are crucial components of Ireland’s broader tourism growth strategy. As more American tourists find it easier to travel to Ireland, the country is poised to see increased visitor numbers, creating positive impacts for local businesses, hotels, tourism operators, and the economy as a whole.

Expanding Tourism Growth Beyond 2026

With a record number of direct flights and an established relationship with US travel agents, Tourism Ireland is poised to promote substantial tourism growth for the island of Ireland in 2026 and beyond. The ‘Best of Ireland’ sales mission is only one of the many initiatives put in place to further enhance Ireland’s position as a premier destination for American tourists. The sales mission’s emphasis on developing strong partnerships between Ireland and the US tourism industry will ensure that Ireland continues to be a destination of choice for future travel.

The increasing demand for business and leisure tourism is expected to positively impact the Irish economy, resulting in the creation of new jobs in the tourism industry and an increase in the number of overnight stays in Irish hotels, making it an important contributor to the overall economic growth in Ireland. With an increasing number of US tourists choosing Ireland as their vacation destination, the effect on the tourism infrastructure and services in Ireland will continue to increase.

Image Source: Tourism Ireland

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