Support for Licensed Outbound Travel Agents and Tour Operators Scheme (Stage 2)

Applications to Stage 1 of the Scheme are now closed.

The deadline for the submission of applications to Stage 2 of the Scheme is by end of business Friday, 7th October 2022. Please note that licensees whose application to Stage 1 of the Scheme is undergoing an audit must also submit their Stage 2 application by this deadline.

Stage 2 of the Support for Licensed Outbound Travel Agents and Tour Operators Scheme (“the Scheme”) is open to applications from

a) applicants who have received a Stage 1 Notice of Award.

b) Any applicant who failed to meet the deadline for application to Stage 1 of the Scheme but wishes to apply for support in the Stage 2 claim period of 1 February 2022 to 30 April 2022. Any such applicant will be required to submit all relevant information to establish their eligibility for the Scheme.

The Scheme is open to travel agents and tour operators licensed by the Commission for Aviation Regulation. The detailed terms and conditions of the Scheme are set out in the published Guidelines available below. The official Application Form for Stage 2 of the Scheme is also available below.

The Scheme is designed to assist licensed tour operators and travel agents with non-payroll ongoing business costs associated with their licensable travel trade. Stage 2 of the Scheme relates to non-payroll business costs associated with licensable travel trade accrued in the period 1 February 2022 through 30 April 2022.

The main features of the Scheme are as follows:

• applicants must hold a current travel agent or tour operator licence issued by the Commission of Aviation Regulation under Section 6 of the Transport (Tour Operators and Travel Agents) Act, 1982 in the period of a claim;
• applicants who hold both a travel agent and tour operator license will make a single application to the Scheme;
• the total licensable turnover of an applicant business, during 2021, must be below 25% of the total licensable turnover during 2019;
• applicants must be established and registered for Tax in the State;
• applicants are continuing to or have resumed trading, confirming by way of declaration that its travel trade licensable business has a reasonable prospect of survival until at least the end of 2022;
• grants will be subject to Scheme caps and EU State Aid limits;
• the maximum level of payment that a qualifying business can claim is calculated as 5% of the monthly average of the total 2019 eligible turnover, subject to a maximum monthly amount of €22,000 per applicant;
• the maximum total payment claim under the scheme is €110,000 per applicant; and
• the Scheme is time limited to the period 1st December 2021 to 30th April 2022.

Your questions answered on the Support for Licensed Outbound Travel Agents and Tour Operators Scheme

For queries, please contact the Scheme Support Team by email at traveltradesupport@transport.gov.ie