The Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA) has welcomed the announcement of a €10 million business support fund for travel agents licensed in Ireland.
The state aid package was announced by Hildegarde Naughton, the minister of state responsible for international travel.
The ITAA said the Irish travel industry has been hit by the pandemic and subsequent travel restrictions on international travel, and said the fund will help travel agents throughout the country remain in business until viable trading can resume.
The association added that it has been working “tirelessly” with government departments and politicians since summer 2020 to secure financial support “to protect the travel industry and, in turn, to protect the Irish consumer”.
It pointed out that consumers who book with a bonded, licensed Irish travel agent are guaranteed protection under the European Package Travel Directive (PTD).
Paul Hackett, president of the ITAA, said: “The past 22 months have been the most difficult of all times for the travel industry.
“Travel agents have facilitated clients with refunds and rebooking throughout this time despite trading at near zero levels.
“We in the ITAA have worked hard on behalf of all licensed travel agents to highlight the issues faced by our industry and very much welcome this support fund for travel agents licensed in Ireland.
“It will go towards protecting the Irish-based travel industry, facilitating a smooth and safe return to business in 2022.
“I have no doubt that over the next 18 to 24 months we will recover to pre-pandemic trading levels.”
The ITAA has more than 100 travel agent members and 70 affiliate partners.