UNIT 1
INTRODUCTION TO
IRISH TOURISM
STUDENT WORKBOOK
TOURISM INSIGHT – UNIT ONE
Developed by Institute of Technology, Tralee in conjunction
with Irish Hospitality Institute
Introduction
Hello and welcome to the student work book which is
designed to support your journey through the Tourism
Insight online unit. The Tourism Insight project is a
joint initiative between, the Irish Hospitality Institute,
the Institute of Technology, Tralee & Fáilte Ireland.
The primary aim of the overall project is too introduce
young people to the Irish Tourism and Hospitality sector
and to provide them with information on possible career
and education paths into the sector. In unit one we
begin with providing you with background information
and figures that will hopefully give you an understanding
of the sector and encourage you to consider the sector
as a possible career. Building on this the learning
outcomes for unit one are:
1. Develop a familiarity with some of the sources
of information for tourism statistics
2. Develop an appreciation of the significance
that overseas tourists make to the Irish
economy
3. Understand the range of activities that
tourists engage in
4. Encourage you to reflect on what your own
area/county has in terms of tourist
attractions
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TOURISM INSIGHT – UNIT ONE
Using The Online resource and
Workbook
This unit is intended to be worked though using a
combination of the on-line resources and this workbook.
Throughout the unit there are a number of activities
that are intended to support your learning and you are
therefore encouraged to actively engage in these
activities.
Navigating through the Online Unit
You can go forward by clicking on ‘NEXT >’ and
backwards by clicking on ‘<PREV’ on the bottom right
hand corner.
Additionally there is a ‘Menu’ option in the top right-
hand corner. Clicking on this gives you a drop down menu
which allows you to select any of the pages that you
wish.
There is also a ‘Resources’ option in the top right-hand
corner. When you click on this it will provide you with a
link to a PDF document.
Where required you will be directed to an activity in
this workbook.
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TOURISM INSIGHT – UNIT ONE
Activity - Different Markets
It’s important to remember that when it comes to
attracting tourists a ‘ONE SIZE FITS ALL’ approach is
not appropriate.
Look at the videos on the slide called “What Did We
Promise Them?” – ask yourself what are the videos
offering the different tourists?
GERMANY
They are offering a chance to explore the wild landscape of Ireland,
and interact with nature and natural beauty.
BRITAIN
They are being offered a chance to encounter the magical aspects
of Irish tradition, to learn our history and explore the events that
have shaped the past.
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TOURISM INSIGHT – UNIT ONE
AMERICA
They are being offered a chance to relax, to take a break from the
hurly-burly and visit lush countryside of Ireland. To have a calming
and fun time.
IRELAND
They are being given a chance to visit some of the places they
wouldn't normally. They are encouraged to visit different places
to normal,to chance an enjoyable holiday in their own country.
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TOURISM INSIGHT – UNIT ONE
Activity - Storyboard
Imagine that you have been commissioned to make a
video that will attract tourists into your area to help
local enterprise. Make a storyboard of at least four
places of interest in your locality that will be in the
video – think about what message are you trying to
convey?
Ross Castle
Killarney National Park
Inisfallen Island
Killarney Town
_____________________________________
I would try to convey the message that Killarney and its environs cater to a wide variety
of interests, from the nature and beauty of the Park, to the historical locations of Inisfallen
_____________________________________
and Ross, as well as having a town with good quality restaurants and hotels.
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
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TOURISM INSIGHT – UNIT ONE
Activity - Overseas Visitors by County
Using the Fáilte Ireland Document supplied in the
‘resources’ tab answer the following:
1. What was the total number of visitors to your
county?
The link doesn't work
2. Aside from Dublin, which county had the highest
number of North American Visitors?
3. Which county had the lowest number of overseas
visitors?
4. What was the total number of British visitors for
the three counties of Galway, Roscommon and
Mayo?
5. What statistic from the table surprised you and
why?
[When you have finished reading the Fáilte Ireland document
click back on the Tourism Insight Tab]
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TOURISM INSIGHT – UNIT ONE
Activity - Your Region/County
Having accessed the information from the links answer
the following questions:
1. How did holidaymakers first come across this
region/county?
______________________________________
Mostly by word of mouth.
2. Why did they choose this region/county?
______________________________________
Mostly because of the scenery.
3. When they were in the region/county where did
they get information from?
______________________________________
Mostly from the tourist information office.
4. What aspect of the visit did they rate as being the
best overall experience and what was the score?
______________________________________
Friendliness of locals at 4.7 / 5
5. What were the two most popular things that people
did when they were in the region/county?
______________________________________
1. Historic houses and castles
______________________________________
2. Gardens
6. Name one thing that surprised you from the
figures?
That gardens rated higher than national parks.____________
______________________________________
[When you have finished reading the Fáilte Ireland
document click back on the Tourism Insight Tab]
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TOURISM INSIGHT – UNIT ONE
Activity – Visitor attraction quiz
In order to answer the seven questions in the online unit
regarding the following attractions you will need to click
on the links on each question slide which are in a box
called ‘REQUIRED LINKS’. Please do not simply click on
the possible answer until you have gone to the websites.
The main aim of the activity is to introduce you to the
attractions not to ‘test’ you.
Blarney Castle Book of Kells
Guinness Storehouse Kilmainham Gaol
Cliffs of Moher Tayto Park
National Aquatic Centre St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Dublin Zoo Fota Wildlife Park
Note: There is no audio throughout the quiz.
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TOURISM INSIGHT – UNIT ONE
“Well done you have now completed unit 1 of this
programme; please progress to unit 2.”
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