ICCTA Spring Update 2026
New Opportunities in Sino-Irish Tourism, Culture and Business
Industry Opportunity This Spring
Tourism Ireland's China Sales Blitz will take place in May 2026, with events across Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai, bringing Irish tourism companies together with travel trade buyers.
A number of Irish companies, including ICCTA members, will be participating. During the programme, networking sessions and challenge events will also feature partner-contributed prizes and experiences.
For an overview of the programme and impact, please refer to last year's Sales Blitz.
Fifty Years On: The 1976 UCD Team Returns to China
This spring, members of the 1976 University College Dublin football squad returned to China, fifty years after becoming the first Western football team to visit the country after 1949.
Their return visit is more than a reunion. It is a reminder that Ireland-China friendship has real depth, and that sport continues to create meaningful people-to-people links.
For Irish organisations promoting themselves in China, stories like this matter. They present Ireland through trust, history and shared memory.
Gaelic Games in Wuhan: Irish Heritage in Motion
On 25 April 2026, Hubei Harp GAA held a training session and match activity in Wuhan, offering another strong example of Irish culture being shared in China through participation and community.
Gaelic games are not only sport. They are also part of Ireland's traditional sporting heritage, making them a highly engaging way to introduce Irish identity, values and culture to new audiences.
For tourism, education and cultural partners, this is a useful reminder that promotion in China can begin with memorable local experiences.
Tourism Ireland's China Sales Blitz, 19-25 May 2026
For Irish tourism and destination partners, Tourism Ireland's China Sales Blitz is a useful industry platform to watch this spring. The programme combines B2B meetings, workshops and networking activity across four key outbound cities.
For ICCTA members and partners, the relevance lies in the wider market signal: Chinese travel trade buyers continue to show interest in Ireland, and well-prepared Irish destinations, brands and visitor experiences can benefit from stronger visibility.
- Shenzhen B2B workshop on 19 May
- CEM workshops in Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai
- Business networking and challenge nights in Beijing and Shanghai
- Opportunities to meet nearly 180 travel trade buyers across the week
Explore Sino-Irish tourism and cultural opportunities
Email ICCTA at info@cits.ie to discuss partnerships, destination promotion, cultural exchange or future newsletter features.