Root cause of this situation is absence of British tourists since the June 2016 Brexit referendum vote.

ITIC's concerns include loss if tourism market share, restrictions on Ireland/NI Common Travel Area, UK-Ireland air service, possible hard Ireland/NI border, possible differing regulatory standards.

The Irish - in the Republic and NI alike - more than any other Europeans are in danger of taking a serious tourism and overall economic hit from Brexit.

Irish, UK and EU leaders need to continue to try to solve the enigma of the Ireland/EU border post-Brexit.