As part of its push to grow business tourism from the rapidly-growing BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) markets, Tourism Ireland recently welcomed a group from one of India’s largest conglomerates, Godrej, to Waterford and Ireland. The group included 80 of the company’s senior management team and their families, who travel to a different overseas destination each year on an incentive trip, as a reward for their performance over the previous year. One of the highlights of their time here was a visit to the House of Waterford Crystal.
Tourism Ireland in Mumbai assisted the group in advance of their visit and suggested various places to include on their itinerary. The visiting group, who flew to Ireland via London, chose to include Ireland in their 2013 itinerary because of the ease of access now provided by the visa waiver scheme. Introduced by the Irish Government in 2011, the scheme allows people from emerging markets who are visiting Britain to also visit Ireland – without the cost or hassle of applying for a separate visa.
Huzan Fraser, Tourism Ireland India, said: "We are delighted that this prominent Indian company chose to include Waterford and Ireland in its 2013 overseas incentive trip. The majority of our overseas visitors come from the core tourism markets of Great Britain, North America and Mainland Europe, and while this will continue, it is important that we expand our focus beyond these markets and look to the long-term opportunities presented by India and the other BRIC countries.
