Message from the CEO of Fáilte Ireland

Dear Industry Partner,

I hope you and your loved ones had a peaceful and safe Easter. I’d like to thank the tourism and hospitality industry for amplifying the message to stay at home over the long weekend at a time that would normally mark the start of our tourism season.

This is one of the most challenging and difficult times our industry has ever faced and to meet the changing needs of tourism and hospitality businesses during the crisis, we are regularly updating our online support hub with new supports and expert webinars and guidance.

It is hugely important that we look after our mental health at this time. Tourism business owners and those working in the industry face deep uncertainty about the future of their businesses and jobs. The anxiety and worry that COVID-19 is causing is immense so in response, we have launched new wellbeing supports, including free counselling and financial advice, to help tourism businesses and their employees, as well as those who have unfortunately lost their jobs, through this difficult period. Please see below for more information on the supports available.

The retention of staff during the crisis is critical so that businesses have their teams ready to go for recovery. We are encouraging as many businesses as possible to avail of the Government’s Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme and, in light of Minister Donohoe’s announcement of updates to the scheme yesterday, we have created a new quick guide to help businesses understand how it applies to them, which you will find in the Government Supports section of our online support hub.

Looking to the future, Fáilte Ireland is working with Ministers Ross and Griffin and Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport officials, Tourism Ireland and Industry bodies as we all collectively apply our insights, expertise and creativity to develop a roadmap to help the industry recover when the timing is right.

Please continue to visit our online support hub at www.failteireland.ie for up to date information and support. We are here to help so if there is an area of support you think the tourism industry urgently needs, please don’t hesitate to contact the Business Supports team by email on business.supports@failteireland.ie or call our support desk on Lo Call 1800-242 473 (Mon–Fri 09:00–17:00).

Paul Kelly,

CEO, Fáilte Ireland