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The tourism industry here has seen a revenue drop of about 85% in 2020, as well as 150,000 job losses

Irish tourism industry's revenues slump 85% in 2020

2020 has been "an absolutely traumatic year" for the tourism and hospitality industry due to Covid-19, the chief executive of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation has said.

Business • 29 Dec 20

The spectacular landscape of the Burren in Co Clare

Burren tourism group wins Lonely Planet travel award

The Burren Eco Tourism Network has won a Lonely Planet award in its 'Best in Travel' picks for 2021.

Munster • 17 Nov 20

Dalata owns the Clayton and Maldron brands

Dalata CEO says normal activity won't return until 2023

The chief executive of Ireland's largest hotel chain has said he expects it will be 2023 before the hotel market gets back to 2019 levels of activity.

Business • 11 Nov 20

Last December saw 314,000 people arrive here from the UK

December air restrictions risk 800,000 visits and €400m

Failure by the Government to fully implement the EU traffic light system for international travel here could prevent up to 800,000 visits into Ireland over Christmas at a cost of €400m to the economy, according to tourism chiefs.

Business • 02 Nov 20

Tourism taskforce says the sector will recover from the effects of the pandemic

Tourism taskforce urges radical steps to sustain sector

The Tourism Recovery Taskforce has called for radical steps to sustain and revive the industry post-Covid 19 including €120m in grant aid, a loan scheme and staggered school holidays.

Coronavirus • 07 Oct 20

Northern Ireland is benefiting from the 'staycation' factor (File pic)

Cross-border visitor growth for NI tourism

The chief executive of Northern Ireland's tourism promotion agency says significant growth in cross-border visitors is helping the sector during what is its most challenging period for many years.

Regional • 16 Sep 20

Shannon Airport contributes €3.6bn to the regional economy and supports 54,596 jobs

Midwest tourism could lose €500m due to Covid-19

An economic assessment of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on tourism in the midwest region has found that the sector could lose to €500m this year.

Munster • 15 Sep 20

The Book of Kells can now be viewed in a new state-of-the-art display at Trinity College Dublin (Courtesy: The Board of Trinity College Dublin)

Trinity unveils new Book of Kells display case

One of Ireland's greatest cultural treasures, the Book of Kells, can now be viewed in a new state-of-the-art display at Trinity College Dublin.

Ireland • 14 Sep 20

'Staycationers' boosting Shannon boat hire business

Despite the cancellation of hundreds of overseas bookings in the first five months of the year, the River Shannon cruiser hire business is reporting its best season in nearly eight years due to an unexpected boost from so-called "staycationers."

Ireland • 06 Sep 20

Greece's GDP shrank 14% between the three months of April to June

Greek economy shrinks by 14% in second quarter

Greece's GDP shrank 14% between April and June, marking the steepest quarterly contraction in at least 25 years and threatening to undermine a decade of hard-won gains for the recently bailed-out economy.

Business • 03 Sep 20

ITIC says the green list of countries does nothing for inbound tourism

Tourism sector seeks help as losses reach €27m a day

The loss of international tourists to Ireland is costing the tourism and hospitality sector €27m a day.

Business • 02 Sep 20

The Stay and Spend Scheme begins on October 1

Stay and Spend participants urged to prepare for launch

Businesses are being advised they must ensure their tax affairs are in order and that they have registered with Revenue if they want to take part in the Government's new Stay and Spend Scheme when it starts on October 1.

Business • 02 Sep 20

$The number of foreign visitors rose from just 114,667 in June to 1.1 million in July but remains just a fraction of 6.45 million the same time last year$

Spain visitor numbers still a fraction of 2019 levels

The number of foreigners staying in Spanish hotels rose in July to over 1.1 million after the country came out of one of Europe's strictest coronavirus lockdowns in late June, but was still only about one-sixth of last year's levels, data showed today.

Business • 24 Aug 20

Applications for the grants will remain open until 8 October

Grants up to €15,000 available for tourism businesses

Fáilte Ireland has launched its €26m Covid-19 Adaptation Fund today after Tourism Minister Catherine Martin secured the funding as part of the Government's July stimulus package.

Business • 18 Aug 20

Tourism, a pillar of the Spanish economy and accounting for 12% of GDP, suffered a 60% drop in revenues in the second quarter

Spain in recession as GDP tumbles by 18.5%

Spain plunged into recession in the second quarter after its gross domestic product tumbled by 18.5% due to the coronavirus pandemic, official figures showed today.

Business • 31 Jul 20

Open For Business focuses on the tourism industry in Episode 2 at 7pm tonight.

Open For Business focuses on tourism industry

In Episode 2 RTÉ's Open For Business focuses on the tourism industry, an industry devastated by the lack of international visitors to Ireland.

Open for Business • 30 Jul 20

In Kilkenny, the county council, local businesses and other agencies have worked together to promote tourism there

Drive to lure home-based tourists to domestic market

As uncertainty continues regarding foreign travel, the drive is on to promote the domestic tourism market over the next six weeks.

Tourism • 22 Jul 20

Almost 100% of self-catering properties along the coast are fully booked for July and August

Can you afford to holiday in Ireland?

With uncertainty remaining regarding foreign travel, most people will be holidaying at home this summer - but at what cost?

Business • 18 Jul 20

1.6m people came through the Cliffs of Moher's visitor centre last year - twice the number it was built to accommodate

€16.5m upgrade for Cliffs of Moher tourist facilities

Clare County Council is set to spend an estimated €16.5m, including €2m on a tunnel for pedestrians, at the country's most popular natural tourist attraction at the Cliffs of Moher.

Business • 29 Jun 20

The tourism sector employs 265,000 people

Tourism sector 'disappointed' with department structure

Organisations representing different sections of the Irish tourism and hospitality industry have expressed significant disappointment at the decision of the new Government not to include tourism with one of the economic portfolios.

Business • 28 Jun 20

A man paints the Eiffel Tower as part of preparations for reopening

Covid-era tourism: Masks and no Eiffel Tower lifts

After months of lockdown many Europeans are dreaming of a summer holiday, but vacations will look a bit different this year - breakfast buffets, guided tours and club nights may well be out; masks and temperature checks are definitely in.

News Lens • 25 Jun 20

Eilise Sullivan with her family at Anam Valley Farm in the Black Valley in Co Kerry

Kerry tourism industry facing €400m Covid-19 hit

Three independent economic studies have indicated that Kerry will be one of the counties hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, because of its dependence on tourism.

Ireland • 24 Jun 20

An air decontamination device usually found in hospital intensive care wards will be used in some Temple Bar restaurants and pubs.

Pedestrianisation and sanitisation in Temple Bar plans

The pedetrianisation of Temple Bar and hospital-level sanitisation for pubs and restaurants are among planned measures to restart Dublin's hospitality industry.

Dublin • 13 Jun 20

Spain open to foreign tourists from 1 July

Spain will further ease a coronavirus lockdown in its two biggest cities from Monday, but will not start opening its borders to foreign tourists before 1 July.

Europe • 05 Jun 20

All shops will be able to reopen from Monday, while shopping centres can also open on 15 June.

Retail, hotels and bars to reopen earlier than planned

Many retailers will be able to open sooner than previously planned, as part of changes to the Government's Covid-19 roadmap for reopening the economy.

Business • 05 Jun 20