Ireland has also adopted European Union’s COVID-19 digital certificate and will follow all the rules related to travel. This will allow for more seamless travel among member states. The decision arrived after Ireland’s Taoiseach or Prime Minister approved the plans for welcoming non-essential travel.
Tourism Ireland saw the move as good news for everyone in the tourism and hospitality industry. Ireland will begin resumption of travel with the UK and the US, starting July 19. All travellers from EU member states having the pass which confirms if the holder has either been vaccinated or has had a negative COVID-19 test will then be allowed to visit Ireland without the need for a test or quarantining.
Tourism Ireland also welcomed the commitment to extend the COVID-19 certificate to vaccinated visitors from other countries including Great Britain and North America. Northern Ireland has also confirmed that British visitors are now welcome and can holiday starting today. Tourism Ireland has been actively planning to restart of international travel and is all set to welcome back international visitors.
Niall Gibbons, Chief Executive, Tourism Ireland, said in a statement that the announcement is an extremely welcome and important step on the road to recovery for the industry. He said that the move will help protect thousands of jobs and livelihoods across the tourism industry. He shared that for the first time in many months, people look to the future with optimism.
He also mentioned that it has been revealed through research that there is significant pent-up demand among travellers in Great Britain to return to the island of Ireland as soon as possible. He shared that there will also be significant competition in the marketplace as every destination across the globe has experienced the impact of COVID-19 and will be seeking its share of the recovery.
Ireland has observed one of the strictest lockdown restrictions ever since the inception of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. The nation has previously prohibited people from travelling more than five km from their homes. So far the country has already opened cultural attractions, galleries, and museums last month.
Tags: Coronavirus, Covid-19, Ireland, Ireland tourism
