Lough Neagh could benefit from overseas tourism

Two dozen tourism enterprises located in and around Lough Neagh have been given a lesson in how to target international tourists to its shores.
July 2014: Attending the tourism workshop and networking event, organised by the Lough Neagh Partnership and Tourism Ireland are (l-r) Lawrence Mullan, The Crosskeys Inn; Geraldine Egan, Tourism Ireland; Christine Butler, Ballymena Borough Council; Niamh Byrne, Abhainn-Ri Farm & Cottages Co Wicklow; Damien Clarke, Portglenone Enterprise Group; Rosemary Lightbody, NITB. Pic by Chris Neely.July 2014: Attending the tourism workshop and networking event, organised by the Lough Neagh Partnership and Tourism Ireland are (l-r) Lawrence Mullan, The Crosskeys Inn; Geraldine Egan, Tourism Ireland; Christine Butler, Ballymena Borough Council; Niamh Byrne, Abhainn-Ri Farm & Cottages Co Wicklow; Damien Clarke, Portglenone Enterprise Group; Rosemary Lightbody, NITB. Pic by Chris Neely.
July 2014: Attending the tourism workshop and networking event, organised by the Lough Neagh Partnership and Tourism Ireland are (l-r) Lawrence Mullan, The Crosskeys Inn; Geraldine Egan, Tourism Ireland; Christine Butler, Ballymena Borough Council; Niamh Byrne, Abhainn-Ri Farm & Cottages Co Wicklow; Damien Clarke, Portglenone Enterprise Group; Rosemary Lightbody, NITB. Pic by Chris Neely.

They came together in Toomebridge for a tourism workshop and networking event, organised by Lough Neagh Partnership in conjunction with Tourism Ireland.

The 24 representatives of accommodation and visitor attraction providers and representatives of other local tourism businesses explored ways to grow overseas tourism to the Lough in 2014 and beyond.

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Practical advice about how to get involved in, and maximise, promotional opportunities overseas were outlined by Geraldine Egan from Tourism Ireland; Rosemary Lightbody from NITB looked at what overseas visitors want; and Niamh Byrne, of Abhainn Rí Self Catering Cottages, Co Wicklow, shared examples of how she has worked with Tourism Ireland to grow overseas business.

Eimear Kearney, Marketing Officer with the Lough Neagh Partnership added: “The event has highlighted the need for more networking opportunities for the tourism industry within the destination and Lough Neagh Partnership will endeavour to facilitate this in the near future.”

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