The Irish government is reportedly considering offering a staycation voucher to the value of €500 to give the tourism sector a boost.
According to The Irish Mirror, hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions and outdoor activities would all be part of the staycation voucher scheme. The plan was presented to the three parties currently engaged in new government formation negotiations (Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party) by ITIC (Irish Tourism Industry Confederation).
Irish Tourism Industry Confederation chief Eoghan O’Mara said: “We have been hit very hard by the coronavirus, primarily because 75% of our business is international. That is gone.
“That is why we are arguing for a Government stimulus.”
The tourism industry is set to reopen on June 29 as the country enters Phase 3 of the government’s roadmap for easing Cocid-19 lockdown restrictions.
Failte Ireland has released advice and guidelines for hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs for reopening. Guests must be advised to stay two meters apart from those who are not from the same household at all times.
Failte Ireland is also advising against buffet-style hotel breakfasts. Drawn up in collaboration with several industry bodies, the document includes specific guidelines for hotels and guesthouses amongst others, with some of the advice provided being that management should make big changes to the traditional hotel breakfast set up. According to the guidelines buffet-style breakfast should “be avoided” as it is difficult to ensure that adequate social distancing measures are enforced.
Other measures included in the document state that all foods in a bain-marie or hotplate must be covered and that only employees can plate up and serve food. Any food on display must be covered or individually wrapped and common tongs or ladles must not be used.
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