DER Touristik, a major German tour operator and the largest tour operator from Mainland Europe to the island of Ireland, will host its prestigious annual travel academy in Killarney, in October 2020.
The event is always held in leading travel destinations – most recently in Cuba in 2019 and in Finland in 2018. Killarney beat off challenges from a number of other top destinations to host the 2020 event.
The congress is DER Touristik’s annual event and will take place over three nights, in October 2020. Around 300 top German travel agents, as well as influential travel journalists and senior managers from DER Touristik – are expected to participate.
In addition to attending the travel academy, delegates will have the opportunity to participate in specially designed pre-conference tours across the island of Ireland – to enhance their knowledge of the tourism experiences and attractions on offer here and allow them to sample our legendary hospitality and welcome. As well as generating valuable off-season business, giving the local economy a significant boost during a traditionally quieter time, the annual travel academy always helps boost German visitor numbers to the host destination in subsequent years.
Kevin Keogh, Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing for Der Touristik, said: “As the market leader for tourism from Germany to the island of Ireland for well over 50 years, DER Touristik is delighted to bring its 300 hundred top travel agents to Ireland for our 2020 Academy and to encourage them the discover the destination.”

