The Coach Tourism and Transport Council of Ireland has expressed its concern over the refusal to facilitate group bookings at Office of Public Works (OPW) sites, galleries, museums and cultural attractions across the country.
CTTC is the country's representative body for coach tour operators.
It said the decision on behalf of some national museums and galleries to refuse group bookings for both this tourist season and summer 2022 has made it impossible for coach tour providers to operate their services.
Many are now experiencing a high volume of cancellations as a result.
CTTC's chairperson John Halpenny said that the refusal of OPW sites and national museums to facilitate group bookings for fully-vaccinated Irish tourists is putting an unnecessary strain on an industry that has already suffered deep economic damage as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Throughout this crisis, the Government has consistently advised against international travel, and instead, has encouraged the public to 'stay and spend' within Ireland, with coach tourism proving a popular excursion," he said.
"As we know, the primary appeal of coach tourism is not the coach itself, but rather, the visitor attractions and cultural sites that are encountered along the way. If tourists are prevented from accessing these amenities, many will simply cancel their bookings, as a number of CTTC members have witnessed over the last couple of week," he said.
Mr Halpenny said the decision to close off OPW sites, galleries and museums for groups is especially perplexing, given the detrimental impact of the Covid-19 crisis on the tourism sector.
"As public health restrictions ease, now is the optimal time to re-open these attractions up to fully vaccinated groups. I would strongly urge the Government to direct these amenities to commence the facilitation of group bookings immediately and ensure that the recovery of domestic tourism is not undermined by this," he added.
