Coach Tourism Association members joined with Tourism Ireland for a two-day conference and workshops, generating new leads and business opportunities
Tourism Ireland’s Chief Executive reiterated the importance of coach tourism to the economy across the island of Ireland at the recent Coach Tourism Association (CTA) Conference in Belfast. The event attracted over 180 delegates and hosted 800 meetings between suppliers and buyers from the coach tourism industry. Staged at the city’s Europa Hotel and sponsored by Tourism Ireland, the event took place from 5 to 7 February.
“Coach tour travellers stay longer, spend more, and are particularly crucial during the off-season,” said Niall Gibbons, Tourism Ireland’s Chief Executive. “Tourism is an important industry for communities right around the island of Ireland and coach tourism business plays a key role.”
Keynote speaker and well-known travel journalist Simon Calder summarised the previous 12 months in tourism and looked to the year ahead. Among challenges for travellers including airport disruption, passport bureaucracy and border delays, as well as recent rail strikes, Simon emphasised the ease and convenience of coach travel.
“Coach travel is the way of getting from A to B, whenever, so if you want assurance, go by coach,” he said. “There’s pent-up demand to travel, with lost adventures versus the cost of living, but many people are still travelling and spending.”
During a Q&A session, Niall Gibbons reiterated the benefit of hassle-free travel between Great Britain and Ireland thanks to the Common Travel Area. He also explained how the organisation can help operators overcome what he called the ‘green haze.’ “Many people in Great Britain know Ireland, but they know about all the many great and already popular things to see and do,” he said. “Our Tourism Ireland team in GB can connect with coach tour operators and wholesalers, to highlight and remind them of the wealth of experiences our island has to offer.”
During the weekend, delegates enjoyed a preview trip to the Titanic Belfast exhibition, as well as Northern Ireland’s Royal residence, Hillsborough Castle. Pre-event trips also took in the Giant’s Causeway, Derry/Londonderry, and Belfast.
“The annual Conference has generated a lot of new business between supplier members and operators and wholesalers. Some re-established their relationships, while others met for the first time to secure future product,” said CTA Chair Robert Shaw. “So many operators and wholesalers reported that they would be bringing groups to Northern Ireland in future following their wonderful fam trip experiences, which showed the true value of participating in the conference.
Looking to the future, he added: “The majority of operators are ahead in bookings for 2023 compared to last year. Especially from our 55 years old-plus traditional coach tour market, we’re seeing enthusiasm to travel backed up by financial spend. We expect an upturn in business for the year ahead.”
A fundraising event during the Conference gala dinner also raised over £1,600 for People’s Kitchen Belfast which provides meals to marginalised and vulnerable people in the city.
