Five travel journalists from Italy have been visiting Northern Ireland, as guests of Tourism Ireland and Tourism NI.
The articles written by these journalists, whose publications and online platforms have a combined audience of over 1.5 million across Italy, will inspire their readers to put Northern Ireland on their holiday wish-list, the two tourism organisations claim.
In Derry, the group’s action-packed itinerary included a walking tour, followed by a visit to some of the city’s museums – including the Peacemakers Museum, Tower Museum and The Siege Museum.
En route to Belfast, the journalists explored the Causeway Coastal Route, stopping at Gortmore viewing point, Mussenden Temple, Dunluce Castle, the Giant’s Causeway and Portaneevy viewing point in Ballintoy.
In Belfast, the journalists visited the Ulster Museum and attended a special concert by the Ulster Orchestra as part of the Belfast 2024 programme. They also took part in a street art walking tour, had lunch at St George’s Market and explored the HMS Caroline, Titanic Belfast and Titanic Distillers.
Marcella Ercolini, Tourism Ireland’s Manager for Italy, said: “We were delighted to invite this group of Italian travel journalists to Derry and Belfast, to highlight what makes Northern Ireland a ‘must see’ destination, with a rich heritage and culture to explore. The print and online articles produced by these journalists will reach over 1.5 million people across Italy – inspiring their readers to choose Northern Ireland for future holidays.”