MARCH 2020 PAGE 3
www.travelextra.ie
NEWS
Into the unknown Pandemic fears hit international travel and aviation
TRAVEL TRADE SHOW is going ahead despite Covid-19 and will take place in a new venue, The Hotel Riu Plaza The Gresham, on Thursday, 2nd April 2020. For the first time, Cork will host the ITAA’s Irish Travel Trade Show on Wednesday, 1st April 2020. Both Shows will be open from 5.00pm to 7.30pm at a great value rate of €499 + VAT for the Cork Show and €799 + VAT for the Dublin Show. The package includes a table, chairs, power point, WiFi and free tickets to Exhibitors and Visitors for a Buffet Dinner and Networking Event. The ITAA will arrange transport for Exhibitors between the two venues and offer very competitive room rates in both Hotels. The ITAA AGM and Consortia meetings will take place before Dublin Show. ITAA Michael Doorley is the new and uncontested President of the Irish Travel Agents Association, as the only nomination for the office. Mr Doorley served as ITAA President previously in 1982-3 and 2004-5.
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Breakfast in the age of Coron-fear
reland’s direct routes to China have all been ended by the advent of Coronavirus. Shanghai, a new route via Helsinki with Juneyao was due to commence in April but was listed as delayed. It is now unlikely to happen. Cathay Pacific initially suspended bookings on flights to Hong Kong to end June from proposed commencement date end March but is now saying flights may resume at year end. The Hainan routes to Beijing and Shezhen will not be returning in 2020. The projected El Al route to Tel Aviv is also in danger as Israel implemented a measure placing all international arrivals in quarantine for 14 days, effectively ending international tourism to the region. In the occupied territories, all visits by tour groups have been cancelled, n all hotels have been ordered to cancel reservations for foreign tourists,
n all touristic and religious sites have been ordered to close, n all educational institutions have been ordered to close, n all conferences have been cancelled, and the authorities have advised against movement between Palestinian cities, except in emergencies. Travel agents have seen business fall by 80pc. Agents shared “worst case” anecdotes as the crisis saw intercontinental flights slashed by 30pc and inter-European flights by 10pc in the wake of travel bans and fall off in demand. One agency in a large shopping centre which remained open on Sunday saw four transactions, two cancellations and two bookings. An edict from the US Travel department advising its citizens not to take cruises, especially those with pre-existing condition, was expected to have a disproportionate effect n an
industry already suffering as a result of high profile quarantines on board the Diamond Princess, Grand Princess and delayed sailing on the Regal Princess. Malta banned a cruise ship visit for fear of public unrest.” US carriers are cutting frequencies to Europe, impacting on Ireland. Short haul flights are already cut. Aer Lingus start-ups to Alghero and Brindisi and Ryanair to Verona are now in danger. ITAA CEO Pat Dawson said that travel agents would remember those suppliers who were prepared to go “into the trenches” with the agents at their time of need. Agencies were considering Saturday closures and five day weeks in a bid to avoid laying off staff. ITAA president John Spollen said he could not rule out casualties in the travel trade as a result of the sharp drop off in demand for travel, which is not confined to affected areas.
GLORIOUS LAKE GARDA Glistening water, colourful towns and dramatic mountains. Stir up your senses on a Lakes & Mountains holiday to Lake Garda this summer.
Lakes & Mountains
TUI is a trading name of TUI Ireland Limited and is fully licensed and bonded by CAR T.O.021.
GOHOP The Gohop leg of Atlas Travel, which was not part of the sale to Liam Lonergan’s Club Travel, is being wound down as a result of spiralling business insurance costs. TRAVEL COUNSELLORS
Lorna O’Brien has been appointed new Business Development Executives joining the head office team in Cork. Lorna has 15 years of experience in the sales and travel industry, including 10 years in Tour America’s Cork branch as a travel consultant and sales team leader, Lorna’s new role will support the company’s growth through the management of new business opportunities.
SPAIN
remains Ireland’s most popular tourist destination with 2,177,106 visitors in 2019, up 6pc. Only USA and Russia showed a faster growth rate than Ireland as Britain fell in 2.4pc in anticipation of Brexit. Irish visits to Spain fell by 4.8pc in January to 85,375
CAR
have put together a seven minute presentation that we will be sending out to all businesses applying for a licence to aide businesses as they fill them out and are highlighting certain information that needs to accompany the forms.
