AMID SO much downbeat news from this part of the world, it is encouraging to be able to report positive news about efforts to boost Ireland’s profile in China.
Tourism Ireland and Bord Bia brought some of China’s top travel journalists to Ireland in recent weeks, including Chen Ting, one of the most popular bloggers in China, and a representative of Sina Corporation, the largest online media company there.
While Ireland doesn’t have the resources that countries such as Australia has when it comes to wooing Chinese tourists, this kind of event fosters publicity in the hugely popular travel magazines and blogs in this expanding market.
Their trip took in some of the sights visited by their future leader Xi Jinping during his visit to Ireland earlier this year, including the Cliffs of Moher.
The travel scribes took a walking tour of Cork city, including a visit to the English Market, where they met fishmonger Pat O’Connell.
An important place for them to visit was Birr Castle. Anna, the future eighth Earl of Rosse and a Beijing resident, is from
Tianjin.
The couple’s children are being raised equally at home in both western and Chinese traditions.
“With two million Chinese people visiting Europe each year, this is a significant emerging tourism market and an important one for the island of Ireland to tap into,” said Susan Li of Tourism Ireland China.
“Visits such as this are extremely important, helping to deliver extensive coverage for Ireland through the media in China.
“They are a fantastic way of highlighting the island of Ireland, bringing the destination to the attention of millions of potential Chinese holidaymakers,” she said.
