BUSINESS TOURISM:TOURISM IRELAND is to embark on a major marketing drive to attract business tourists in advance of the opening of the Convention Centre Dublin, in September. The €2 million campaign will target the UK, continental Europe, the US and the Middle East.
The CCD, Ireland’s first purpose-built convention centre, is seen as critical to the Government’s ambitions to generate €1 billion from business tourism by 2013. The centre, at Spencer Dock, has secured 45 conferences and nine banquets already, bringing in an estimated €73 million. It has already won several high-profile conventions, most notably that of the International Bar Association, which will bring 4,500 delegates in 2012.
Last week a delegation from Tourism Ireland attended the Gulf Incentive Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition, a key business-tourism convention.They are hoping that the recent increase in flights between Dublin and Dubai will boost business tourism to the Republic.
“Business tourism is the most lucrative form of tourism, and the CCD is placing Ireland in the forefront of people’s minds,” said Sinéad Grace of Tourism Ireland. Targeting the German market has already secured a commitment by Axa to bring hundreds of staff on business trips to Ireland, she added.
Business tourists stay an average of four days and spend an average of €1,400 each.
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