Relaxation of US travel ban a potential game changer for Irish tourism

The decision last week of the Biden administration to lift the travel ban on vaccinated Europeans entering the US was met with a collective sigh of relief by many interested parties back in Ireland. For individuals it gave hope that they could travel across the Atlantic to see friends and family for the first time […]... Read More

Tourism industry budget submission and recovery scenarios

Budget 2022, due to be delivered on October 12th, represents a defining moment for Ireland’s tourism industry. There is an opportunity to move from survival to stabilisation through to recovery but only if backed by pro-tourism and pro-aviation policies from Government. In that context the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC) publishes an updated strategic plan […]... Read More

The need for urgent clarity on business events: interview with Stephen Meehan of The CCD

Although much of Ireland’s tourism industry has opened again there is still a complete lack of clarity as to when conferences, events and other business tourism activities can recommence. The Irish Tourism Industry (ITIC) caught up with CEO of the Convention Centre Dublin (CCD), Stephen Meehan, to hear about the urgent need for a reopening […]... Read More

CIE Tours bring American visitors back to Ireland

With the ban on non-essential travel lifted last month international tourists have slowly started returning to Ireland. The US market is of critical importance to Irish tourism and CIE Tours have been one of the first tour operators to bring escorted group tours back to the country. The Irish Tourism Industry Confederation caught up with […]... Read More

Aviation takes off – ITIC interview with DAA CEO, Dalton Philips

Last week the non-essential travel ban was finally lifted allowing international aviation to recommence. ITIC caught up with Dalton Philips – CEO of DAA who operate Dublin and Cork Airports – to hear about the return of international travel. Dalton discusses the impact of the pandemic on the aviation sector, how Dublin and Cork airports […]... Read More

A tourism product of scale and international appeal: interview with Barry O’Connor of Westport House

Westport House was recently awarded €20 million funding from Fáilte Ireland as part of a €75 million investment in the estate to transform it into a world-class tourism product of scale and international appeal. ITIC met with CEO Barry O’Connor to discuss plans for Westport Estate and hear how it aims to appeal to both […]... Read More

Hopes for international tourism: video interview with Niall Gibbons

Now that we finally have a start date of 19th July for international travel what sort of business can Ireland’s tourism and hospitality industry expect from overseas markets for the rest of the year? The Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC) met with Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland, and the man tasked with promoting the […]... Read More

Interview with Nóirín Hegarty, Chair of the Recovery Oversight Group

After Friday’s more positive announcement about the reopening of the travel, tourism and hospitality economy – including a date for the resumption of international aviation – the industry can look forward to a more positive future after the ravages of the pandemic. The Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC) spoke with Nóirín Hegarty, Chair of the […]... Read More

The loss of North American flights to the West

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 […]... Read More

How Ireland compares – tourism reopening plans across Europe

Later this week An Taoiseach Micheál Martin will unveil the latest reopening plan for the Irish economy with a particular focus on the tourism, aviation and hospitality sectors. In advance of that announcement the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC) – using data from Eurostat, National Tourism Authorities, the European Commission and Our World in Data – takes […]... Read More