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Tourism Ireland’s campaign for visitors to find their roots
Tourism Ireland is using geneology to attract more visitors to Ireland proving that nearly everyone has Irish relations – including Prince William’s wife Kate.
The tourism body’s new campaign, ‘The Gathering’ which sees hundreds of events and festivals around Ireland, is encouraging people to find their roots in Ireland, using celebrity examples such as George Clooney and Barack Obama.
And following research by a genealogist, CEO of Tourism Ireland, Niall Gibbons, has found a distant relation linking Kate to the country.
Apparently Kate’s great grandfather married into a family who had been married to a descendant of the first Baron Kerry.
Niall Gibbons said: "It’s just a nice story and shows how we’re all so closely related."
"Online geneology is popular and it’s remarkable for people who do come home and visit where they came from. It’s kind of spiritual."
With online geneology, the interest is growing and Ireland’s four key markets are the UK, Canada, US and Australia.
Gibbons is also inviting UK MPs to visit Ireland and trace their ancestry.
Tourism Ireland is about to launch a re-vamped travel trade website for agents in the UK – www.shamrockagents.com – which includes modules on The Gathering and Derry/Londonderry UK City of Culture.
2,300 agents have already signed up and the tourism body is looking for more.
Gibbons said 93% of bookings come direct online although operators provide the short breaks which are the largest part of the market from the UK.
The UK is still Ireland’s biggest market with 50% of the overall business – 25% coming by sea and the remaining flying.
"Tourism is one sector to see growth over the last two years," Gibbons said.
As St Patrick’s Day approaches on March 17, the tourism body has extended its ‘global greening’, where iconic landmarks across the world turn green for the day, to include Cape Town’s Table Mountain, Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer and even the Pyramids in Egypt.
A fleet of green taxis will also be seen across London.
Tourism Ireland is hoping for global visitors to grow from 7.3 to 7.6 million with UK visitors to growing by 200,000 every year.
Diane
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