Ms Ruth Andrews:

It is a good question and I thank the Senator for it. Tourism Ireland, the body responsible for marketing Ireland internationally, has been doing extensive monthly research. In all of our key markets, we are tracking consumer sentiment towards travel and what kinds of travel and holiday experience consumers will want. We are seeing from the research that there is still a pent-up demand. People are just waiting for the opportunity to get back travelling. There is no doubt about that. We call it the dream phase, which has gone on for longer now than we would like. People have a confidence about getting back travelling. The vaccine will play a role in that confidence, as will the testing regime, the behaviour of our aviation sector and everything it does to make people aware of how it will ensure their travel experience will be as safe and secure as possible.

We will look to tourists who want a different experience. There will be a desire for more outdoor, great expanse tourism. The fantastic thing is that Ireland owns the colour green. People think of our green, clean environment. We can offer that to people. What we need to do is invest in products that enable people to access all of that and get out and enjoy our environment, but to do so in a way that marries a sustainable recovery with our environment, businesses and people.

The Senator referenced the psychology of tourists. As evidenced previously, once we have a vaccine and better treatments, younger people who feel that they are less impacted by this virus will be the first out of the chute. They will want to get back travelling again.