Tour wholesaler ICT has been a strong supporter of UK outbound tourism to Ireland throughout its thirty-five-year history and still strongly believes in the draw of our nearest neighbour to the west.
Ireland features as a stand-alone destination in ICT’s ‘Complete’ family of brochures; ‘Complete Ireland’ is dedicated entirely to coach tours there for the 2019 season. Best used as a means of inspiration of what the island has to offer, ICT’s tailor-made service then brings all your group requirements together.
In ‘Darling Donegal & Derry’ you’ll find a tour of north-west cross-border region, an area which remains relatively undiscovered and offers some of the best kept scenery in the country and value for money to boot. In Donegal alone, you’ll uncover the highest sea-cliffs, a hauntingly beautiful national park, clan castle and a mystical pagan ringfort set upon hilltop vantage point. In Derry the discoveries continue with clifftop Mussenden Temple and a guided walk on the city walls of Derry London-Derry, giving a fascinating insight into this infamous city. This four-night tour is a steal at just £265.00 per person. Tour enhancements could come in the form of a visit to Seamus Heaney’s Home Place, a new visitor attraction dedicated to Derry’s Nobel Prize winning poet, whose works will also be exhibited this summer at the National Library of Ireland.
Derry Walled City (C) Tourism Ireland Brian Morrison
Not so far away, lies Belfast and the Causeway Coast voted world’s number one region by Lonely Planet. Its appeal transcends to all travellers with an electric mix of earthly wonders in the Giant’s Causeway, exhilarating experiences such as the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, a multi-award winning modern display of one of the world most gripping stories at Titanic Belfast and then the mythical landscapes of Game of Thrones which have caught the attention of audiences worldwide – very much a true-life feature of these parts. ICT’s ‘Giant Footsteps on the Causeway Coast’ captures the essence of the region wonderfully, staying at Ballygally Castle Hotel with a stop at the newly re-opened Gobbin’s Coastal Walk which attracted visitors to these parts over one hundred years ago.
Trabolgan Holiday Village Accomodation
Peter Stratton, Managing Director at ICT surmises ‘The Irish experience is something quite unique, something that nowhere else can quite replicate and it is continually getting better with new visitor experiences added all the time, the widespread high standards of food and hotel establishments in such stunning locations is unrivalled, plus there’s the guaranteed friendly welcome that visitors have grown accustomed too and the ‘craic’ at the end of the night as you reflect on the day’s events. All that, and I haven’t even begun to mention the landscape, the coast and the story the island has to tell, both tragic and triumphant. It really is a must for a UK coach operator’s annual tour plan.’
To support coach operators with future tour planning, ICT will be hosting an Irish Familiarisation trip in County Cork at the lovely location of Trabolgan Holiday Village which offers superb value for money and is a highlight in itself along this stunning coastline; look out for further details coming soon. This area, in particular, has seen some excellent, long-awaited and newly opened visitor attractions in recent years; among them is the Titanic Experience Cobh, this picturesque harbour being the infamous ship’s last port of call. Also departing from Cobh, a visit to Spike Island, now Europe’s Leading Visitor Attraction is a real thrill where you can easily spend hours on the island soaking up its British military history, its past as an island prison and deportation point.
Visit www.ictgrouptravel.com for further inspiration or to request your copy of ‘Complete Ireland’ call 01708 802355 or email info@ictgrouptravel.com
