TOURISM Ireland last month launched a new online training programme known as Shamrock Agents.
The site is designed to educate travel agents throughout the GCC about the Emerald Isle, and help agents develop an in-depth understanding of Ireland as a whole, which can then in turn be more effectively and efficiently conveyed to clients.
Tourism Ireland is particularly keen to encourage the travel trade to push Ireland this year. Questions on the website help to highlight the diversity of Ireland, so allowing agents to develop individual packages more suitable to the needs and desires of the client to suits all types of travellers.
“We are very pleased to be introducing this initiative to the GCC market having already successfully launched it in Australia. The Shamrock Online training will engage our travel trade partners, increase their knowledge and assist them in their promotion of Ireland. They will be able to do it in their own time and it is fun,” said Aiveen Ryan, marketing manager of Tourism Ireland GCC.
Shamrock Agents follows a module format allowing agents to test their knowledge of Ireland, whilst at the same time giving ythem the opportunity to learn something new. Any travel agent who has not yet qualified can do so at www.shamrockagents.ae and so complete the training and get a free goodie pack and certificate.
Tourism Ireland is the marketing body responsible for promoting the Island of Ireland as a leisure and business travel destination overseas. It was established under the framework of the Belfast Agreement of Good Friday 1998. It is jointly funded by the Republic of Ireland Government and the Northern Ireland Executive on a two to one ratio, and operates under the auspices of the North South Ministerial Council through the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in Northern Ireland and the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism in the Republic.