Cork tourism groups showcase county in London

A DELEGATION from Cork tourism groups was hosted by the Irish Ambassador in London recently.

The Irish Ambassador to UK, Daniel Mulhall, hosted a group of Cork tourism bodies at the Irish Embassy in London which included Cork hoteliers, County & City Council, Cork Airport, Cork Chamber and The Cork Convention Bureau. 

In association with Tourism Ireland, the event attracted over 30 of London’s top meeting, incentive, corporate and leisure buyers. The event showcased the best of Cork’s tourism product to focus the minds of the influential buyers. 

Exhibitors emphasised that Cork is just an hour from London and can now be accessed through its four major airports  at Heathrow, Stansted, Gatwick, and the most recent addition – London City.

It also pointed out that, launched last October, City Jet now connects London City Airport with Cork 18 times a week. 

This event is a new direction for Cork tourism partners who are collectively working together to sustain, develop and grow Cork as destination of choice. This initiative compliments the recently launched tourism strategy and may be used as a blueprint for future international promotions and route support.

Seamus Heaney, chairman of the Cork Convention Bureau, said it was a collective approach and all stakeholders had come together to ensure Cork is ideally positioned to compete on the international stage.

‘Route support is an integral part of ensuring connectivity is maintained between Cork and international markets. Such supports will ensure Cork is ideally positioned when competing for the overseas visitor against other global destinations. Equally such activity compliments the goals laid out in the recent strategic plan for Visit Cork,’ he said.

David Boyce of Tourism Ireland said the initiative was also underpinned by the fact that Cork now sits at the very epicentre of the Ireland’s two major tourism offerings, the Wild Atlantic way and Ireland’s Ancient East. 

‘Projected to drive tourism growth by 28% over the next five years, this will present new challenges for Co Cork to capitalise on this very welcome expansion,’ he said.

The establishment of the Visit Cork team as part of the collective strategy is intended to meet those challenges and, together with the Cork Convention Bureau, to drive leisure and business tourism for the entire region.