Tourism Ireland courts same-sex marriage market

Tourism Ireland was quick off the mark after Ireland's Yes vote in the marriage referendum in May – within 24 hours of the vote, it had launched its "Ireland Says I Do" campaign in nine countries.

That campaign highlighted Irish beauty spots perfect for weddings and also promoted "The Outing", an LGBT offshoot of the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival.

The tourism marketing agency has now visited The Outing, which was held earlier this month, and produced a short video from the rainbow-flagged event in which drag artist Rory O’Neill (better known as Panti) introduces the festival in the “picturesque, adorable, west of Ireland village” – which is naturally identified as being “on the Wild Atlantic Way”.

Tourism Ireland will use the new video to invite LGBT couples from around the world to celebrate their weddings and honeymoons in Ireland amid a backdrop of open-mindedness, respect and the Cliffs of Moher.

Research presented at last year’s World Travel Market conference estimated that the annual spend on travel by LGBT people exceeded $200 billion for the first time in 2014, and Tourism Ireland is keen for Ireland to win its share.