The Irish Tourism Industry Confederation has released its proposed roadmap to recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism in Ireland.
Status of Irish tourism in June 2020:
- Over 90% of businesses are closed.
- Almost half have let all employees go, at least temporarily.
- Tourism earnings are expected to be down at least 75% - €7B - for the year.
- The year's expected business of 8M overseas visitors will be lost
Immediate measures needed to support Irish tourism include:
- €1B in business continuity grants
- €500M in state-backed, long-term, low-interest loans to businesses
- Extension of wage subsidies
- Waiving of local authority rates to March 2021
- Ending of 14-day quarantine for international arrivals
- Social distancing 1m vs. 2m
- Max gathering size based on venue size
Externalities that need to go in favor of tourism include:
- Vaccine or treatment for COVID-19
- Restored consumer confidence in international travel
- Airline recovery
- Negotiated BREXIT
- Competitiveness as impacted by costs, VAT rates, employee skills
ITIC's recommendations fall into 6 categories:
- Stimulating demand for Irish tourism
- Re-establishing connectivity
- Making tourism economy competitive (including tourism VAT reduction to 5%)
- Motivated and skilled workforce
- Securing sufficient government funding
- Ensuring government focus
Comment: In a world where most tourism is going to have to come from drive markets for the next 1 or 2 or 3 years, Ireland is at a terrible disadvantage.
