Tourism Ireland is teaming up with 18 Irish tourism companies to launch a "blitz" on three major Chinese cities – the capital, Beijing, financial hub Shanghai and southern giant Guangzhou – later this month to boost Ireland's profile among travel professionals.

The sales mission, set for September 15th to 19th will target top Chinese travel agents and tour operators in the three cities. It has been designed to strengthen business links between the Irish tourism enterprises and the influential Chinese travel professionals through a programme of workshops, presentations and networking events.

"Our sales mission is a key element of our promotional programme in China, to win a greater share of the three-plus million Chinese visitors who travel to Europe each year," said Niall Gibbons, chief executive of Tourism Ireland.

The sales mission would give Ireland's tourism partners a platform to inform and influence the Chinese travel trade on all that Ireland has to offer and, importantly, encourage them to include Ireland in their 2015 brochures and programmes.

“Tourism Ireland is committed to growing Chinese visitor numbers to the island of Ireland to 50,000 per year, over the coming four years and our sales missions play a significant role in helping us achieve this target,” said Gibbons.

When dealing with China, Tourism Ireland builds on existing relationships with intermediaries, such as the travel trade, airlines and media to highlight our natural attractions, cities, castles and proximity to Britain.

Last year, Tourism Ireland launched the Chinese version of Ireland.com to target leisure travellers living in major cities, such as the three on the sales mission.

The organisation held a briefing last week for the Irish tourism operators who will participate in the 2014 China sales mission.