Lithuania’s Tourism Opportunities Presented to the Irish Travel Trade
Thursday the 25th October saw representatives of the Irish travel trade and media gather at the Lithuanian Embassy in Dublin to discuss potential tourism opportunities in Lithuania. The familiarisation seminar, held by the Lithuanian Embassy and the Lithuanian Professionals Network Ireland, a local diaspora professionals’ club, introduced the destination’s potential in attracting travellers from Ireland and highlighted specialised tourism products tailored to the Irish travel market.
Among the presenting party were two Lithuanian destination management companies. The Travel Addicts Club suggested an array of group and individual tour options and specialised travel experiences such as 3-4 day cultural city breaks to Vilnius, Kaunas and the medieval capital Trakai. The Travel Addicts Club representative expanded on niche travel offerings such as specialised Cold War history experiences, immersive nature and forest retreats with wild food foraging opportunities and traditional wellness and sauna breaks in the midst of a natural backdrop of forest, river and lake lands. The representive also described 5-9 day active walking and cycling holiday options along Lithuania’s unique coastline of sand dunes and pine woods.
The Seagull Group Ltd. introduced Catholic pilgrimage tour opportunities in Lithuania. The importance of Vilnius as the City of Mercy and Saint Faustina’s experiences in this city were highlighted along with the opportunity to view the original Image of Divine Mercy, permanently venerated in the heart of Vilnius Old town. The magnificent Baroque monastery of Pazaislis, the Marian Shrine of Siluva with its Irish connections as well as the mystical Hill of Crosses were all proposed as highlights of the John Paul II pilgrimage route in Lithuania, a 5-7 day tour with special points of interest for Irish pilgrims.
Ireland’s first Ambassador to Lithuania Mr. Donal Denham and his successor Ms. Philomena Murnaghan shared their own travel experiences and personal insights into places of interest around Lithuania. The country’s superb quality medical tourism opportunities as well as excellent rehabilitation retreat programmes were also discussed at the event, followed by a lively networking session with wine and traditional Lithuanian snacks.
Set between Latvia and Poland on the Eastern shores of the Baltic Sea, Lithuania enjoys a continental climate. Its long summers, rich history and culture, untouched nature as well as direct flights from Dublin and Shannon make the still undiscovered Baltic nation an ideal holiday destination for those residing in Ireland. Ireland’s well-established tour operators Joe Walsh Tours and One Foot Abroad are in the process of arranging regular packaged pilgrimage and active tour options to Lithuania in the near future.
