Approval is being sought to send a Newry council official to attend two golf trade shows in eastern Europe and the United States – at a cost of £4,500 – for the third year in a row.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has been told that the move will have benefits in terms of increasing the number of visitors to the region.
An officer has attended the IAGTO North American Golf Tourism Convention and the International Golf Travel Market trade show for the past two years.
And the NMD Council’s enterprise, tourism and regeneration committee will be asked at its meeting on Monday to approve an officer’s attendance again in 2018.
The aim of the visits is to promote the “golf product in our region” and to “encourage more international golfers to visit the district”.
If approved, golf clubs in the area will also be invited to attend the trade shows, in partnership with council, to “promote the golf tourism offering” here.
In the past two years, councillors haved been told that “strong working relationships have been forged with group buyers from North America, Canada, Australia and the UK”.
A paper to committee informs that 400 bednights were generated in the Newry, Mourne and Down area over the past two years by new incoming tour groups.
The paper states: “In 2018 there is confirmation of new incoming groups from North America, Canada, Australia, the UK and the Nordics.
“In order to maintain these working partnerships, to continue to promote the region, and to prospect for new business, it is proposed that a council officer attends these shows again this year.
“Tourism Ireland, Failte Ireland and Tourism NI are all planning to attend both events.”
The IAGTO North American Golf Tourism Convention takes place over four days in June, in Oregon, and the International Golf Travel Market in Slovenia, over four days in October.
Councillors will be asked to approve the £4,500 required to attend both, with the decision then to go to full council for full ratification.
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