Press release
Minister Naughton opens €10 million Support Scheme for Licensed Travel Agents and Tour Operators
Published on
Last updated on
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for State at the Department of Transport Hildegarde Naughton today announced that a €10 million Support Scheme for Licensed Travel Agents and Tour Operators is now open for applications.
Commenting on the Scheme, Minister 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."
Minister Naughton continued:
"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 allocation will be used to assist Travel Agents and Tour Operators licensed by the Commission for Aviation Regulation with non-pay business costs.
The outbound licensed travel trade sector in Ireland comprises over 165 enterprises licensed by the Commission for Aviation Regulation as tour operators and travel agents to sell travel and package holidays out of Ireland. The sector consists principally of micro-enterprises providing well-distributed local employment across the country. In 2019 the sector reported a turnover of €1.4 billion and employment of over 3,500.
Although the primary focus of the sector is leisure travel it is also an important provider of business-to-business travel services for many corporate, including government clients based in Ireland particularly those reliant on export markets.