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Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has welcomed strong engagement from local tourism businesses at the recent Tourism Northern Ireland’s, ‘Meet the Buyer 2026’ event, highlighting the growing international appeal of Mourne Gullion Strangford.
Held on 26 and 27 March at ICC Belfast, the flagship event brought together tourism providers with international tour operators from key global markets.
Mourne Gullion Strangford was well represented, with over 20 local businesses taking part in hundreds of pre-arranged one-to-one meetings. These valuable connections provide opportunities to secure future business and strengthen the destination’s presence in international travel programmes and itineraries.
Following the event, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Philip Campbell said, “The level of engagement from Mourne Gullion Strangford businesses at Meet the Buyer 2026 was extremely encouraging. The volume of one-to-one appointments and the opportunity to host buyers within the destination through familiarisation (FAM) visits demonstrates the strength and diversity of our tourism offering. These connections are vital in ensuring Mourne Gullion Strangford features strongly within international travel programmes.”
Building on connections made at events such as Meet the Buyer, a number of local tourism providers welcomed international tour operators to Mourne Gullion Strangford over lastweekend for FAM visits. These visits allowed buyers to experience the destination first-hand, bringing to life the relationships and opportunities developed during the event.
Slieve Donard Hotel, Great Jones Craft & Kitchen, Mourne Mountain Adventures, Bike Mourne, Mourne Larder, Xhale and Killeavy Castle Estate all welcomed international tour operators to experience their offerings at first hand. These visits provided buyers with an authentic insight into the accommodation, food and drink, adventure, wellness and experiential tourism available across Mourne Gullion Strangford.
Meet the Buyer remains a key event in the tourism calendar, supporting business growth and driving international visitor interest. Through continued collaboration with Tourism Northern Ireland and industry partners, the Council remains committed to raising the profile of Mourne Gullion Strangford, supporting local businesses and growing sustainable tourism across the destination.
