Worldwide tourism push gets the green light for St Patrick’s Day ~
Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Richard Bruton switched the green lights on Niagara Falls (9 March), as part of this year’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations in Canada. Minister Bruton is in Canada as part of a “Promote Ireland” programme around St Patrick’s Day – helping to promote tourism to Ireland.
The famous falls are just one of hundreds of famous landmarks and iconic sites around the world which are set to light up green next week, as part of Tourism Ireland’s annual Global Greening initiative to celebrate St Patrick and the island of Ireland.
“We are delighted that Minister Bruton is in Canada, to help us deliver the message about the many great reasons to visit Ireland and also to switch the green lights on Niagara Falls,” said Dana Welch, Tourism Ireland’s Manager Canada. “Our Global Greening initiative has gone from strength to strength, with numerous sites and buildings here in Canada taking part this year – including the CN Tower in Toronto, a polar bear habitat in the town of Cochrane and the Sails of Light at Canada Place in Vancouver.
“St Patrick’s Day traditionally marks the real start of the tourism season for us. Our aim is to bring a smile to the faces of Canadians, and to people around the world, over the coming week and to convey the message that Ireland offers the warmest of welcomes and great fun, as well as fantastic scenery and cultural activities.”
Tourism Ireland has an extensive programme of promotional activity under way in Canada this spring. This includes an online advertising campaign – with Tourism Ireland’s new ‘Fill Your Heart with Ireland’ video and ads running on sites like CBC, Discovery Channel and The Weather Network. The campaign also includes a partnership with BBC – with articles about Ireland’s craft and culinary scene, as well as the ancestry connections between Ireland and Canada, running on the BBC website in Canada. Campaigns with all of the airlines that fly to Ireland from Canadian gateways, as well as with leading Canadian tour operators, are also under way. These campaigns are focused on driving business outside the high season months.
Minister Richard Bruton; Sandie Bellows, Niagara Parks; HE Jim Kelly, Ambassador of Ireland to Canada; and Dana Welch, Tourism Ireland, at the ‘greened’ Niagara Falls.
