Kevin Cullinane – Head of Communications with Cork Airport was the Guest Speaker at the “Getting on Board” Tourism Seminar at the Radisson Blu, Little Island on the 13th of December 2017. The Seminar was organised by Ring of Cork and it coincided with their AGM. Over sixty tourism businesses from the region were in attendance.
In his presentation, “Maximising Incoming Tourism”. Kevin told us about the work that the Airport do to attract new airlines to Cork, whilst working in partnership with Tourism Ireland. Although Cork Airport is the best airport in Europe in their class and has won numerous awards, what really matters to the airline, is the destination. Kevin is a great promoter of Cork and being from Cobh himself, knows how to sell the Ring of Cork tourism businesses to potential airlines. As he said, “it isn’t all about great runways and terminals”. He also spoke about how all tourism businesses could maximise opportunities from markets in Switzerland, Spain and the USA.
Cork Airport is the international gateway to the South of Ireland and is uniquely positioned at the start of Ireland’s Ancient East and the Wild Atlantic Way. It is the country’s second busiest and best connected international airport after Dublin with connectivity to over fifty destinations. More than 2.3 million passengers will travel through Cork Airport this year, 57% Irish residents and 43% overseas visitors flying from destinations across the UK, Continental Europe and the USA on year- round services from Boston Providence with Norwegian. In June, Cork Airport was named Airport Council International (ACI) Best Airport in Europe in its class (serving under 5 million passengers).
Veronica Murphy of The Discovery Partnership followed Kevin’s presentation. In her presentation, “Maximize your Markets- Connect & Network”, she spoke about Visit Kent and how they have increased their visitor numbers via maximising markets through connecting and networking and getting on board with the Ring of Cork.
Elga Ryan of SECAD, who manages Ring of Cork presented the 2017 programme of activities to the audience. Ms. Ryan spoke about the ROC supports that Ring of Cork provide to tourism businesses through the delivery of leading edge training programmes and the provision of marketing tools as well as connecting tourism businesses together at networking events. This was very evident at the lunch break, where lots of connections were made and relationships formed from the wide range of tourism businesses who were in attendance from East Cork, Cork Harbour and the greater Cork region.
Ring of Cork connects and supports tourism businesses through marketing, training and networking. It supports the development of sustainable tourism businesses and helps to maximise business potential. Ring of Cork supports local jobs and the local economy.
