They don’t get the importance of tourism to our economy,” he said. Mr Walsh said larger tourism firms could give the State equity stakes in return for grant aid. They often don’t qualify for Covid pay subsidies because they are husband-and-wife operations whose average age tops 60 years. If the virus returned in 2021 and 2022, overseas tourist spending would reach only €4bn by 2025. Even if the Government met the ITIC’s entire wish list and a Covid-19 vaccine is found, the group still doesn’t envisage overseas tourists spending more than €5bn in Ireland again until 2024.

Source: Irish Independent June 29, 2020 16:18 UTC