Indian viewers see North Coast in HD!

07th July 2014 Photo by William Cherry/Presseye

Travel XPHD India company filming at the Titanic, Belfast. Pictured are (l-r) presenter Olivia Cox, Arundhati Sawant Tourism Ireland, Director Joseph Panikulan, Producer Santosh Singh and cameraman Abhishek Surendra Jain. — 07th July 2014 Photo by William Cherry/Presseye Travel XPHD India company filming at the Titanic, Belfast. Pictured are (l-r) presenter Olivia Cox, Arundhati Sawant Tourism Ireland, Director Joseph Panikulan, Producer Santosh Singh and cameraman Abhishek Surendra Jain.

Invited here by Tourism Ireland, the television crew was here to record some of the unique experiences that their viewers can enjoy on holiday in Northern Ireland. The travel programme, which will air this autumn, will be seen by more than 10 million viewers across India who have a passion for travel and adventure.

During their time in Belfast, the crew captured footage at Titanic Belfast, the Ulster Museum, St George’s Market, City Hall, Belfast Castle and enjoyed a Belfast City Bike ‘n’ Boat tour. They also filmed along the Causeway Coastal Route, taking in the Giant’s Causeway, the Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge and Dunluce Castle, before travelling onto the Dark Hedges at Ballymoney – one of the locations in HBO’s Game of Thrones. The itinerary was devised by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.

Huzan Frazer, Tourism Ireland India, said: “We are absolutely delighted that travelxp HD agreed to come and film in Northern Ireland, showcasing some of the unique experiences Indian holidaymakers can enjoy here. Travel programmes such as this are an excellent way for Tourism Ireland to get positive exposure for Northern Ireland in India. This programme will be seen by more than ten million potential Indian holidaymakers – encouraging them to come and experience Northern Ireland for themselves.

“India is an important emerging market and one that Tourism Ireland is committed to growing over the coming years. With a rapidly-growing middle class and rising disposable incomes, the number of Indian people travelling overseas has grown by about +12% over the past six years; and forecasts for the coming years suggest an even greater rise. While visitor numbers from India are small, when compared to our more established tourism markets, it is important to remember that visitors from India spend more and stay longer than the average visitor.”

Tourism Ireland aims to capitalise on the fact that India is now one of the fastest-growing tourist-generating countries in the world and grow the number of Indian tourists to the island of Ireland from the current estimated 21,000 per year. India is expected to reach 50 million outbound travellers by 2020.