What’s on the horizon for holidays this summer
WHAT are the chances of a sun holiday this year? Why hasn’t Ireland reopened? Could we really jet off and welcome visitors from next Wednesday? Our Travel Editor cuts through the confusion...
What are the chances of getting away for a sun holiday?
They’re on the rise. Ireland’s Aviation Recovery Taskforce yesterday recommended that advice against non-essential overseas travel, and the 14-day quarantine requirement for arriving passengers, be dropped from July 1.
Although Ireland has had “equivalent or even better success” in containing Covid19, it is significantly behind other EU countries in lifting restrictions, the taskforce warned – and the economic damage is mounting.
If accepted, the recommendations could make sun holidays (and inbound tourism) possible from next Wednesday, the same date
Ryanair begins ramping up its summer schedules.
Other European countries are reopening, so why aren’t we?
June has been a month of reopenings, with Italy welcoming EU visitors without quarantine since June 3, and France, Spain and Portugal all now back in business.
The EU has also been actively encouraging member states to reopen borders, and Ryanair and Aer Lingus are pushing for a restart.
“This delay in lifting travel restrictions will further hurt our industry, as Irish customers will be forced to wait to book their holidays, which will in turn drastically slow the recovery of the Irish travel sector,” said Irish Travel Agents Association chief executive Pat Dawson.
However, the Government has not indicated whether it will accept the taskforce’s recommendations, and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar favours a “careful” approach.
“We’ve got our caseload of this virus down so low now that there is a real risk of reimporting it from countries where the virus is still very prevalent,” he said.
So when could restrictions be lifted?
Cabinet will consider the taskforce report today. July 1 looks like the earliest date, but July 9 or 10 (or even later) are also possible.
The law requiring passengers to tell authorities where they will be quarantining has been extended.
To allow travel, the Department of Foreign Affairs would need to lift its blanket advice against all “non-essential travel” until further notice – at least to certain countries.
Critical business is being lost with every day of delay, and it’s possible that things could be accelerated – as has happened with the domestic roadmap – but the Government and Nphet are also clearly wary about the risks of importing cases to the island.
There is lots of talk about ‘air bridges’. How do they work?
“If we’re going to open air travel between Ireland and other countries we need to do it safely,” Mr Varadkar has said, adding that this could be done by air bridges.
They are essentially agreed travel channels, where countries with similarly low levels of the virus and strong healthcare systems pair with each other to permit travel.
Spain, France, Portugal, Greece and Italy would be some examples. The US and long-haul travel, however, are likely to remain off-limits for longer.
Have people been booking flights?
Anecdotally, yes. Ryanair has summer sale prices from €19.99, and some have been taking punts on July and August bookings (without adding extras like bags or seat selection) in the hope restrictions will be lifted.
“Irish customers are booking in their thousands to summer destinations in Spain and Portugal, such as Malaga, Lanzarote, Tenerife or Faro,” the airline said.
It has also seen “a surge” in bookings to Eastern Europe since restrictions were eased there, though inbound flight sales are much slower.
Passenger numbers are slowly rising at Dublin Airport.
Airlines are signalling a limited return and both Ryanair and Aer Lingus have dropped change fees for bookings made for July and August.
Is it risky to book now?
If you jet off while the Government advises against travel, your travel insurance won’t cover you overseas – in almost all cases.
If there are further outbreaks or travel restrictions, and flights operate anyway, then you will not be able to claim a refund from the airline.
Will holidays be different once they resume?
Yes. Holidaymakers will need to prepare for a brave new world of airport and in-flight experiences.
Face masks, distancing and Perspex screens will be widespread, and some countries are running not just temperature screening, but requiring Covid-19 tests for arrivals.
Potential travellers should consider how the in-resort experience may differ, too. You may have to book pool, beach and activity slots by appointment, for instance.
Holidays are coming, but not as we know them.
You may have to book pool, beach and activity slots