Tourism & Hospitality | Saturday 20 August, 2016 2:42 am |

Ireland Specialists is an e-learning travel trade training programme, run by Tourism Ireland, which educates international travel trade about the island of Ireland. Agents must study six modules and complete quizzes in an attempt to obtain a perfect score and the prestigious gold Ireland Specialists certificate. This certificate, displayed on the operator’s website, symbolises an expert knowledge on holidays on the island of Ireland. 

Since launching in 2013, over 11,000 agents across the world have signed up for the programme. 25% of these users have earned a gold Ireland Specialists certificate, letting potential visitors know that they are experts on the island of Ireland. 

This week, from Sunday 21st August to Friday 26th August, the island of Ireland will host the second annual Ireland Specialists Mega Fam trip. Twelve top performing agents from six markets, Australia, China, India, GCC, South Africa and New Zealand, will travel to Ireland and battle it out in daily challenges to be crowned the 2016 Emerald Ireland Specialist 2015. 

The challenges will include photo challenges, food challenges and sporting challenges as well as a competitive, high-tech treasure hunt around Dublin City.

As well as competing for the title, the agents will experience many of the key visitor attractions that the island of Ireland has to offer. 

In Northern Ireland they will experience the rich history of the city of Belfast, the mystery of the Giant’s Causeway and the heart-racing experience of walking on water at The Gobbins Cliff Path.

Moving onto the Republic of Ireland, they will explore Ireland’s newest tourist trail, Ireland’s Ancient East and the world’s longest defined coastal route, the Wild Atlantic Way. Finally, they will experience Dublin, from the delicious food scene and vibrant city life to the historic and iconic walls of Trinity College and the Guinness Storehouse. 

You can keep up with all the challenges and follow your favourite country on Twitter by following @GotoIrelandGCC or get in the conversation by using #IrelandSpecialist.