‘Driving’ golf tourism for Kilkenny at travel show in Portugal

Tourism Ireland’s drive to grow golf visitor numbers from around the world continued last week – at the International Golf Travel Market (IGTM) in Lisbon.

Twenty-one golf and tourism operators from Ireland – including Mount Juliet Estate – joined Tourism Ireland at this important event for the global golf travel community, which brings together more than 1,300 golf travel professionals from around the world. The companies from Ireland engaged in four days of one-to-one, pre-scheduled appointments, as well as networking sessions – which provided a valuable opportunity to negotiate and exchange vital contracts for 2024.

PICTURES: All the fun from Hughes Farming Pumpkin Festival in Kilkenny

Hughes Farming Pumpkin Festival. (PHOTOS by HARRY REID)

Sinéad Murray, Tourism Ireland’s Acting Head of Business Partnership, said: “IGTM is a fantastic opportunity to showcase our world-class golf. This is just one element of Tourism Ireland’s busy promotional programme to encourage more golfers from around the globe to consider a holiday in Ireland. Our message is that Ireland offers international golfers the complete package – with some of the very best golf in the world, spectacular scenery and the warmest of welcomes.

“We’re also taking every opportunity to highlight the fact that The Open will return to Royal Portrush in 2025 and the Ryder Cup will take place at Adare Manor in 2027. Tourism Ireland will be pulling out all the stops once again to leverage the tourism potential of these prestigious sporting events in our important golf markets around the world.”