A group of top US travel writers and editors have been enjoying a fact-finding visit in Fermanagh, as guests of Tourism Ireland and Tourism NI.

The United States remains an extremely important market for tourism to Northern Ireland, with pre-pandemic figures noting that 2019 saw the North welcome 212,000 American visitors.

In recent days, the travel writers and editors attended the prestigious Travel Classics International writers’ conference at Ashford Castle, bringing together celebrated editors from a wide range of high-profile publications which collectively reach hundreds of thousands of readers across North America and globally.

After attending the conference, the writers and editors had the chance to take part in various familiarisation visits, helping them to share their experiences with their readers and followers in current or future articles and content.

A highlight of their time here was a visit to the Belleek Pottery Visitor Centre, where Patricia McCauley, Belleek Pottery Visitor Centre (right), welcomed them along with Fallon Griffin, Tourism Ireland (third right).

Alison Metcalfe, Tourism Ireland’s Head of North America, said: “We were delighted these influential writers and editors were able to stay on after the Travel Classics International conference to visit Fermanagh, helping us to spread the good news about Fermanagh and Northern Ireland.

“With some of the most influential and prominent American travel and lifestyle editors and writers participating in this trip, it will bring huge exposure about what Fermanagh and Northern Ireland have to offer US holidaymakers.”