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Ireland West Airport teamed up with Tourism Ireland and industry and trade from the West and North West of Ireland to showcase the West and North West to over 50 trade and industry representatives from the German and Italian markets at recent events in Cologne in Germany and MIlan in Italy. The workshops and networking events promoted the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and direct flights from Cologne and MIlan to Ireland West Airport with Ryanair.

The event saw over 20 Irish trade, from premium hotels and whiskey distilleries to outdoor activities and hidden gems of heritage, meet with over 50 leading German and Italian tour operators and travel agents.

Guests enjoyed the best of Irish food, prepared by Good Food Ireland, as well as special Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and Wild Atlantic Way signature cocktails, created by The Shed Distillery in Drumshanbo and Ahascragh Distillery in Ballinasloe.

Both events provided trade from the West and North West with the opportunity to meet with key buyers from the Italian and German markets and showcase the quality of accommodation, activities and value for money available to Italian and German tourists supported by the low cost direct access available with Ryanair from Milan (Bergamo) and Cologne direct into the heart of the West of Ireland.

Nadine Lehmann, Tourism Ireland’s Manager Germany, said: “We were delighted to partner with Ireland West Airport Knock, Good Food Ireland and our other industry partners from Ireland to highlight ease of access from Cologne and Milan on direct flights with Ryanair, as well as some of the many things to see and do along the Wild Atlantic Way and in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands. Our aim is to inspire potential holidaymakers to choose Ireland and to sustainably support local economies and communities by driving bookings on flights to regional airports like Ireland West Airport Knock”

Donal Healy, Head of Marketing, Ireland West Airport said 'These events provided a wonderful opportunity for our trade partners to really showcase all the wonderful accommodation, atrtactions and activities that are available in this beautiful part of Ireland. It's fantastic to have the opportunity to meet direct on a one to one basis with over 50 tour operators and trade from the Italian and German markets and promoting the direct access available from both markets with Ryanair. Both these routes are vitally important for the region as in the past five years alone they have generated in excess of 30,000 overseas visitors direct to our region, providing a huge boost for tourism, small business, hospitality and accommodation right across the region. I'd like to thank the Tourism Ireland teams in both Germany and Italy for their fantastic support in organising these events, which we hope will be annual events and continue to grow each year. Special word of thanks to the trade in the region for participating in these events and showcasing their products to the overseas trade and finally to our Local Authority Partners in Mayo, Leitirm, Sligo, Donegal, Roscommon and Galway for their continued support for the airport and all the work they put in to ensuring these events were a hige success'.