Kevin Thompstone, president, Shannon Chamber with Suzanne Boda, senior vice president, American Airlines and Niall Gibbons, chief executive, Tourism Ireland. Photo: Eamon Ward.
In a week dominated by aviation-related headlines, Shannon Chamber hosted a luncheon seminar today (Thursday, 28 May 2015) where two key players in the tourism and travel sectors. Niall Gibbons, chief executive of Tourism Ireland and Suzanne Boda, senior vice president Asia, Canada, Europe and Cargo, American Airlines were guest speakers. The lunch, sponsored by American Airlines, was held in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Limerick and attended by representatives from the business, tourism and hospitality sectors.
In his introductory remarks, Chamber president Kevin Thompstone said access and connectivity is the key to increasing visitor numbers to the West of Ireland.
“With just over 5% of international traffic to Ireland, Shannon delivers 15% of the West’s, 37% of Shannon’s and 12% of the South-West’s overseas holidaymaker bed nights. This demonstrates the link between access to Shannon and tourism activity in Shannon and the surrounding regions. The West has the product and the amenities and is proactively creating awareness, through Tourism Ireland, in international markets; what we need now is more access which airlines like American Airlines, Aer Lingus and potentially IAG with its global reach, can provide.”
Commenting on tourism growth rates, Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland, said: “I am delighted to be in Limerick to address the Shannon Chamber event and to have the opportunity to outline the strong growth in overseas tourism to Ireland so far this year, which augurs well for a very positive future for the sector. Tourism is one of Ireland’s largest indigenous industries, contributing more than €5.5 billion a year to the economy and sustaining over 200,000 jobs.
“Tourism Ireland is undertaking an extensive programme of promotions around the world this year, to build on the success of 2014 and continue to grow overseas visitor numbers to Limerick and the Mid-West. We are working closely with our tourism partners in the Mid-West – and particularly with Shannon Airport, to promote and drive demand for vital air routes. Priority markets are Great Britain, the United States, Germany and France, but our promotions are also continuing in 18 other markets across the world – including Northern Europe, Southern Europe, Australia and New Zealand, as well as new and emerging markets like China and India.”
Making a return visit to Shannon to specifically address this business lunch, American Airlines’ Suzanne Boda observed that of the  many different tourist boards from around the world competing for US travellers, Ireland gets percentage-wise, more tourists than most countries, and that’s down to the brand positioning by Tourism Ireland.
“At American Airlines we’re committed to Ireland with five daily services in the summer – Philadelphia to Shannon plus New York JFK, Chicago, Charlotte and Philadelphia services to Dublin. That’s over 1,000 seats each day into Ireland in the summer peak schedule, almost 600,000 passengers per annum and we are dedicated to bringing these valuable tourists to Ireland for many years to come.
“Although much of our flying to Ireland peaks in the summer months, our partnership with British Airways allows our customers to visit Ireland all year round via codeshare flights and carry on the momentum that is built up during the summer.
“I cannot overstate the importance of how good the food is here, and equally or more important, the genuine hospitality offered wherever one goes in Ireland. What I would say to anyone involved in Irish tourism is to concentrate on the quality experience – golf, surfing, food, visitor centres and hotels.
“The elimination of the air travel tax just over a year ago is a big plus. When you consider the cost of flying from the UK to the US, Ireland has gotten it right and is sensibly protecting tourism,” Ms Boda added.
