UK & Ireland WHAT’S ON AT WTM
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! (L205) A collection of Ripley’s miniature exhibits will be shown on its stand. Delegates can rub shoulders with characters in full costume, including Robert Ripley himself – the world explorer whose travels inspired the wonderfully weird collection of exhibits – and take to the helm of the original Peel 50, the world’s smallest production car.
Warner Bros, Studio Tour London (UK1420) Head to the Warner Bros, Studio Tour London stand for your chance to celebrate the first anniversary of The Making of Harry Potter by dressing up in a set of Hogwarts robes, climbing aboard a replica broomstick and having a souvenir photograph taken.
English Heritage (UK1320) The UK’s most iconic prehistoric site will be a lot easier to visit come December 18, when the new Stonehenge visitor centre opens for business. Learn more about the improved visitor experience – which includes a special exhibition area, shuttle transport to the stones, a pre-booked timed ticket system, and a trade-exclusive booking line.
The View from The Shard (UKI209) London’s hottest new attraction is celebrating a successful launch in February, which has seen the attraction well on it's way to reaching its target of one million visitors annually. Visit the stand to sample the View’s branded champagne.
VisitEngland (UK1500) Travel agents visiting the VisitEngland stand can sign up to its online agent training programme, England Expert. The tourist board will also unveil its plans for English Tourism Week 2014 and divulge its summer visitor figures for overnight stays and daytrips.
Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum and Tour (L300) Andy Murray’s success in this year’s singles trophy has unsurprisingly become a theme for the museum and visitors to its stand can hear all about its new exhibits, which include the kit Murray wore in his sensational finals.
VisitWales (UK1400) Wales is combining a sporting theme at this year’s event with a celebration of poet and writer Dylan Thomas.
Soul of a nation
Ireland’s forthcoming touring route could rival South Africa’s Garden Route, argues the tourist board. Gary Noakes finds out more
one of the greatest road trips on the planet. The journey, from one end of
T
the country to the other, is to be marketed by Tourism Ireland under the title the Wild Atlantic Way. The route will have the strapline “The Journey of a Lifetime!” and stretch from the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal to Kinsale in County Cork. Tourism Ireland believes the length of
the route is sufficient to earn it worldwide recognition in line with Australia’s Great Ocean Road and South Africa’s Garden Route, not just among those who take driving holidays, but also among cyclists, walkers, culture, heritage and food enthusiasts. The itinerary includes well-known highlights such as Malin Head and the Cliffs of Moher and takes in others such as Loop Head in Clare, Dursey Island in Cork and Fanad Head in Donegal. Tourism Ireland describes the
project as “a journey into our nation’s soul” along Europe’s last Atlantic frontier. A series of 156 Discovery Points will be placed along the main route, with future plans to offer looped itineraries off the beaten track. Signage and other facilities are currently being put in place in time for a launch in March 2014. Roadside lay-bys are being enhanced with inspiration coming from touring routes in Norway, where wooden structures creating resting and information points are dotted along the route. Vanessa Markey, Tourism Ireland’s head
of Great Britain, says: “I’m certain the Wild Atlantic Way will be a major magnet for overseas visitors. However, to make it a success, we need to get the message out there that come March 2014, the Wild
ourism Ireland claims its new 1,550-mile touring route from Donegal to Cork will be the longest in the world and become
Atlantic Way will be open and
ready for business.” The route will be broken into 14
different sections, as Tourism Ireland
believes the majority of visitors will not have time to do the whole journey. It is envisaged that the Wild Atlantic Way will attract groups, but some sections of the route are unsuited to coach travel and alternatives have been provided. The route provides 240 hotels, including five five-star properties, but the majority of the accommodation is self-catering, with almost 500 units; and B&Bs, which total more than 600. The itinerary also contains seven national and forest parks and 50 historic houses and castles. More than 50 of the beaches along the route have the Blue Flag classification. Activities along the way include a four- hour horseback ride in the Atlantic at
Streedagh Beach in Sligo and a chance to view the 600-metre granite walls of Slieve League from the sea, which give views of seven counties on a clear day. Also en route are Ceide Fields in north Mayo, the world’s largest stone monument and one of thousands of archaeological sites found on the Atlantic coast. A trade manual has been produced
specifically for UK group organisers with practical details such as coach parking and viewing points plus accommodation options. Another guide, 50 Secrets of the Wild Atlantic Way, has been specifically developed with the independent traveller in mind and is aimed at niche operators who cater to the fly-drive traveller and smaller group segments.
n Find out more on the Tourism Ireland stand (UKI600)
06.11.2013 53
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