Tourism Ireland will pass the message at WTM London that it is investing €1 billion in supporting tourism infrastructure, transport links and visitor attractions across the island of Ireland.
The funding, allocated through the Irish Government’s Shared Island Initiative, is designed to strengthen economic and tourism cooperation between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, while making it easier for international visitors to explore destinations on both sides of the border.
Tourism Ireland will highlight the program at WTM, taking place at London’s ExCeL from November 3-5, where it will be joined by tourism businesses from across the island to meet international tour operators and travel buyers.
Among the most significant investments are major improvements to the Dublin-Belfast-Derry transport corridor. These include €190 million for rail infrastructure upgrades aimed at increasing capacity and reducing journey times, complementing a €700 million commitment to a new generation of Enterprise trains operating between Dublin and Belfast.
The improvements are expected to make cross-border journeys more convenient, encouraging visitors to combine destinations in Northern Ireland and the Republic within a single itinerary.
Investment is also supporting major visitor infrastructure projects, including the restoration of the Ulster Canal and the proposed Narrow Water Bridge, which will improve connections between communities and tourism attractions.
Tourism Ireland will also promote the expansion of the Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands regional tourism brand into County Fermanagh. The agreement between Tourism Northern Ireland and Fáilte Ireland brings destinations such as Lough Erne, the Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark and Marble Arch Caves into a wider tourism proposition previously focused on central Ireland.
In Cultural tourism, Belfast’s hosting of the August 2026 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann provided another example of the benefits of cross-border cooperation. The world’s largest annual celebration of traditional Irish music, song and dance attracted an estimated 700,000 visitors, with plans underway to expand capacity for 2027.
Ireland presence at WTM occurs as international tourism continues to perform strongly. Ireland welcomed almost 5.3 million overseas visitors between January and September 2026, up 9% year over year. Their spending reached €4.6 billion, an 11% increase.
Tourism Ireland says around 75 tourism companies from across the island will participate in WTM, which marks the start of its international promotional campaign for 2027.
The organization is increasingly focusing on encouraging visitors to venture beyond traditional gateway cities, explore regional destinations and extend their stays. Increased cooperation between Northern Ireland and Eire can only encourage travelers to venture beyond well-established tourism destinations.