But a worst-case scenario, it says tourism may not recover to 2019 levels until 2029.
“Tourism is Ireland’s largest indigenous industry and biggest regional employer, and Government must support it during these difficult and dark days,” said ITIC Chairperson Ruth Andrews, launching its ‘Tourism Roadmap for Recovery’ at a virtual conference.
To do that, measures such as offering future visitors free Covid insurance, extending the 9pc VAT rate to 2025, doubling the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) for tourism businesses and replacing the ‘Stay and Spend scheme with a staycation voucher are critical, ITIC says.
‘Stay and Spend’ was “flawed from the outset” and should be redesigned and relaunched as “a consumer-friendly, upfront household voucher”, said its CEO, Eoghan O’Mara Walsh.
Western Correspondent
Fáilte Ireland says there has been an 80% reduction in tourism revenue as a result of the pandemic.
The agency s CEO, Paul Kelly, says this amounted to a €6 billion loss in 2020.
Addressing a virtual industry event for those involved in the sector, Mr Kelly said the nature of the virus meant forecasting the future outlook was nigh on impossible .
However, Fáilte Ireland is hopeful that some kind of domestic tourism activity could start in the summer.
The outlook for international tourism is less clear.
In the short-term, Mr Kelly advised businesses to plan on the basis that the domestic market would be the primary source of revenue in 2021.
POCATELLOÂ â The Idaho Museum of Natural History on Idaho State Universityâs Pocatello campus has new offerings just in time for the holiday season.
The IMNH has been busy this fall updating and adding to the exhibition hall. Visitors will find the Discovery Room has new educational activities related to Idahoâs natural history. The exhibition In the Shadows had a reboot to add more information about things that creep while you are asleep. Moreover, a new exhibit has been added to the community gallery, Discover Natural Idaho. Discover Natural Idaho is an exhibit designed and constructed by Kate Englund and Ruth Andrews, ISU Career Path interns. The project highlights the use of citizen science and encourages community members to get out and discover the biodiversity in Idaho. The exhibit is inspired by iNaturalist, an app used to identify and document the presence of different species in an area. The data can be used by organizations, such as the Bureau of L