The Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA) has welcomed the opening of the application process for the €10 million Support Scheme for Licensed Travel Agents.
Ireland’s minister for international travel, Hildegarde Naughton, said: “The travel agents sector has suffered significant ongoing disruption to its business during the pandemic. This €10 million scheme will help support the many travel businesses the length and breadth of the country.
“I am cognisant that this sector, of which many are small family-run business located in towns and villages across the country, has remained open to support its customer base in the most challenging of circumstances since March 2020 with a recovery much slower than other parts of our economy.
“The trade generated through licensed outbound travel agents and tour operators is a factor in generating demand for vital air service connectivity between Ireland, our regions and overseas markets.”
The funding will help travel agents and tour operators licensed by the Commission for Aviation Regulation with non-pay business costs.
Pat Dawson, ITAA chief executive, commented: “The ITAA has worked tirelessly with minister Hildegarde Naughton, minister Michael McGrath, and with officials from the Department of Transport to secure this financial support to protect the travel industry.
“This support will, in turn, protect the Irish consumer.
“Consumers who book with a bonded, licensed Irish travel agent are guaranteed protection under the European Package Travel Directive. This protection is not present when booking ‘do-it-yourself’ holidays.”
Paul Hackett, president of the ITAA, added: “The past two years have been the most difficult of trading times for the travel industry. Despite trading at near-zero levels, travel agents throughout the country facilitated clients with refunds and rebooking.
“Our industry is resilient. We have overcome other catastrophes in the past and for the most part our members have survived the most challenging trading environment ever seen.
“I have no doubt that over the next 18 to 24 months we will recover to pre-pandemic trading levels.”