EU Tourism Ministers Video-Conference To Discuss Effects Of Air Travel Closure

The Minister for Tourism Culture and Sport Mary Hanafin T.D., last week participated in a video conference with fellow EU Tourism Ministers, to discuss the impact on tourism business across the European Union of the volcano ash crisis.

The meeting was convened by the EU Commission Vice President Antonio Tajani, with responsibility for Tourism.

Initial indications are that over the 5 full days of the volcano crisis Europe potentially lost around two million tourist arrivals.

Countries with specific dependency on air transport, particularly islands like Ireland, the United Kingdom, Malta and Cyprus would have been particularly impacted by the cancellation of flights.

Minister Hanafin said that the meeting by video conference was a "welcome opportunity for EU Tourism Ministers to assess the impact of the closure of air space following the volcano ash plume.

"All business linked to air travel experienced significant disruption as a result of the volcano ash over Europe.

"This event has been a reminder that people's ability to travel by air is critical to tourism throughout the Union and indeed to our whole economies.

"This applies with even greater force for those of us who live on islands and in more peripheral parts of the EU's territory."

Initial estimates show that around €50 million of normal inbound tourism revenue was lost to Ireland over the period of the closed airspace.

While some of this was balanced by additional spending by those who could not return home and by Irish people choosing to stay at home, it is estimated that over 90,000 visitors would have arrived in Ireland in this period.

Minister Hanafin said that over the air travel closure period, "industry estimates up to €20 million worth of hotel bookings were lost, however many will hopefully have re-booked for later dates.

"A number of conference and other business incentive trips had to be cancelled, including one of the main tourism trade events to Ireland - Meitheal - which has been rescheduled to later in May."

Overseas tourism contributed €4 billion to the Irish economy in 2009. €26 million is being invested by Tourism Ireland in a huge marketing drive in core markets for the first half of the year.

This unprecedented drive will deliver the message that there has never been a better time to visit Ireland.

Minister Hanafin said that the domestic tourism industry responded very well with sensitivity and support for travellers and special offers, and thankfully spare capacity at this low season time was able to cater for the tourists who were stranded in Ireland and pick up domestic tourism as well.

The Minister concluded by saying "it is important that we look now at how the European authorities can coordinate efforts better to allow our citizens to feel confident in their ability to move around Europe in future.

"We must put all our efforts into ensuring that in as far as possible that Europe can stay mobile and working, that people can plan their holidays and that safety of all travellers remains paramount in any decisions taken."