Holiday World Show opens in Dublin after 3 year absence

Travel agents say they have recorded strong bookings in January as the recovery in overseas and domestic holidays from the effects of the pandemic continues.

The holiday sector is worth around €5 billion to the Irish economy, with licensed travel agents alone recording a turnover of €1.3 billion last year, as the industry got back on its feet.

Agents and tour operators have had been through a torrid three years because of Covid-19, with the impact of the pandemic followed by the Ukraine War forcing the closure of 10 travel agents here over the period.

However, optimism was high again as around 1,000 travel experts from 50 countries gathered in the RDS today for the start of the Holiday World Show, which is back after a three year absence.

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"January has started very strong," said Paul Hackett, president of the Irish Travel Agents Association.

"It is very much a back to normal year in terms of booking. Consumers are booking in their droves. It's great."

"We live on an island. We like to get off the island. Irish people love to travel and this is very much like it was pre-pandemic."

The industry says availability, while still recovering, is good.

But people are also booking earlier than last year because uncertainty has reduced, and this early demand coupled with inflation means prices are generally 10-20% higher than they were pre-pandemic.

"It doesn't seem to be deterring consumers," Mr Hackett said.

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"Consumers are being savvy in looking to buy off peak. They're looking at payment plans in terms of passing off the cost of the holiday over a period of time and by booking now they're paying with deposits, low deposits. So that's making a difference in terms of them securing a holiday now at a price that may increase if they leave late booking."

The show features representatives of countries from right around the globe.

Agents say the European destinations that were traditionally popular among the Irish, like Spain, Portugal, Italy and France, remain the most in demand.

But the US is also said to be coming back strongly as are cruises, while although a bit slower to recover, more exotic long-haul desintations in Asia and the Middle East are also gaining traction again.

"Scenery wise and also if you are foodies, Taiwan has everything," said Evan Furlong on the Taiwan stall.

"Since Etihad started flying in in 2007, we've seen a great increase in the Irish market," said David Reading, country manager of Abu Dhabi Tourism.

"They spend well in the destination, they like to travel throughout the destination."

Because people can once again travel abroad again with more confidence, Irish operators face resurgent competition, but remain optimistic.

"The most important thing is to stay positive," said Anthony Gray from the Eala Bhan and Hooked restaurants in Sligo, who was on the Visit Sligo stand.

"We will come out of it the other side, we've come out of two years of torture, and we've managed to over ride that, and I think we are in a great place at the moment."

Caravan and camping businesses are also confident that the momentum they gained during the pandemic won't be lost.

"A lot of people have come in to us and said they really enjoyed their caravan holiday and they really think they are going to continue that," claimed Louise Preston, director of Downshire Camping and Caravans.