The 10 million business support fund for travel agents licensed in Ireland was welcomed by the Irish Travel Agents Association.
Hildegarde Naughton is the minister of state responsible for international travel.
The Irish travel industry has been hit by the Pandemic and travel restrictions on international travel, and the fund will help travel agents remain in business until trading can resume.
The association said it has been working diligently with government departments and politicians since summer 2020 to secure financial support to protect the travel industry and to protect the Irish consumer.
Consumers who book with a licensed Irish travel agent are guaranteed protection under the European Package Travel Directive.
The past 22 months have been the most difficult for the travel industry.
Travel agents have helped clients with refunds and rebooking despite trading near zero levels.
The support fund for travel agents licensed in Ireland is very much welcome by the ITAA, as they have worked hard to highlight the issues faced by our industry.
The Irish travel industry will be protected in order to facilitate a smooth and safe return to business in 2022.
We will recover to pre-pandemic trading levels over the next 18 to 24 months.
There are more than 100 travel agent members and 70 affiliates.
