Fáilte Ireland is hosting a group of top international golfing media from the UK, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, France and Italy with a combined circulation of 1 million ahead of the Horizon Irish Open, which takes place at Mount Juliet Golf Club from 30th June to 3rd July 2022.
Organised by Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, the journalists are in Ireland to play some of Ireland’s top golf courses in Ireland’s Ancient East.
The group played at The European Club, Brittas Bay, Co Wicklow, the Rosslare golf links in County Wexford and Mount Juliet golf course in County Kilkenny.
Explaining the importance of such media trips, Emma Woods, Head of Marketing Communications with Fáilte Ireland, said, “golf plays a significant part in Irish tourism and we welcome the opportunity to showcase some of Ireland’s Ancient East’s top courses to these international media. We know we can provide world class golfing and fantastic holiday experiences to our international visitors with more than 400 golf courses throughout Ireland, with some of our spectacular scenic landscapes.”
“It’s also important to note that golfing visitors are high yielding, spending over three times the general leisure visitor when on holiday in Ireland. Of that spend, only 11% is on on tee times, with the rest of the spend being on non-golf activities such as accommodation, hospitality, transport and other services, meaning a wide range of supporting sectors benefit from golf tourism”.
“We believe golf can deliver increasing numbers of tourists into Ireland, and we can ensure this happens through trips such as this which help develop relationships with influential golfing media in key markets around the world. We believe the best way to write about something is to experience it first. The articles and features these journalists will write and share with their readers about their experiences, will support us getting the messaging about Ireland as a wonderful golf holiday destination.”
Pre-coronavirus golf tourism generated more than €300million in revenue for the Irish economy and 1.6 million bed nights every year, making it extremely valuable to the economy. A golf visitor typically spends three times more than the average leisure tourist with most of the spend going directly into local economies on non-golf expenditure such as accommodation, transport and food and beverage.
Michael Bostrom, Golfbladet magazine, Sweden, said, “I’ve been to Ireland many times and have always enjoyed coming here. I’m really excited to visit the Irish Open venue at Mount Juliet, one of Ireland’s lovely parkland courses, not only just for the golf but to visit the place where Tiger Woods came once and won it, back when you had the American Express world golf championship.”
Ben Smith, founder of The Wandering Golfers, and ex BBC and The Times, the UK, commented on his visit, “how do you begin to sum up the incredible experience of playing golf in Ireland. From the very first time I visited, it’s held a special place in my heart, it’s just been one incredible golf course after another. But it’s more than that, the welcome is always warm, the people are wonderful, the places we visited are just constantly surprising and charming. It’s just always, always a memorable experience.”
The Horizon Irish Open, takes place at Mount Juliet Golf Club from 30th June to 3rd July 2022.
Matt Sandercock – Director of Golf, Mount Juliet Estate, commented, “all of us here at Mount Juliet Estate are delighted to be able to welcome Fáilte Ireland and the International media once again back to the Estate. With the 2022 Horizon Irish Open only a matter of weeks away the whole of Ireland’s Ancient East is excited with Mount Juliet Estate once again hosting this wonderful tournament after the success of the 2021. Lucas Herbert was our winner in 2021 bringing an international feel to the DP World Winners circle and once again we will be hosting these great players from all over the world and showcasing everything that Mount Juliet Estate and Ireland’s Ancient East has to offer.”
Source: Fáilte Ireland
