AOB is at the end of most meeting agendas but for the tourism industry it stands for “Access is the Oxygen of Business” and is priority number one.

Covid-19 and the Irish Government’s restrictions on aviation – the harshest across all of Europe – have severely impacted airlines and airports. As an island nation this has been crippling for the Irish tourism industry which relies on international visitation for 75% of its income.

Transatlantic traffic to Shannon and Cork has collapsed from a peak of 48 flights each week and 6 carriers in summer 2018 to zero in summer 2021. North American visitors support 100,000 tourism jobs along the Wild Atlantic Way and it is critical that tomorrow’s latest reopening announcement offers a clear and speedy roadmap as to how international inbound tourism can recommence.

CLICK HERE or on the image below to watch this short video showing how transatlantic traffic to Ireland’s West coast has fallen so dramatically in such a short timeframe.