Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies Ó Murchú and O'Rourke for kindly obliging. I welcome the witnesses. We have heard from representatives of the aviation sector and others in the tourism industry of the need for a lead-in period. The opening statement indicates that there is usually a six- to nine-month period from the time of booking to the time of travelling. Has the lead-in period for summer 2021 already passed by? We are all anticipating some form of resumption. We hope there will be a fairly buoyant domestic tourism market. Representatives of the Irish Travel Agents Association are heavily dependent on international tourism and we all expect a return to international travel in the mid-summer period.

The big concern is that consumers are fickle. At the moment people are clambering over each other to get bookings in west Clare, Westport, Killarney and all over Ireland. However, as soon as it is possible for them to fly to Gran Canaria and other such places, I expect we will see a shift in demand. I am concerned that as Irish consumers move from west of Ireland hotel breaks to international travel, it may create a vacuum. Will we see a return of the North American travellers to fill that vacuum? How are the witnesses strategising for the shoulder season beyond the summer? What lead-in period do they need? Has some of that already passed them by? Other than what they have already mentioned, what supports should the Government and this committee be championing on their behalf?