50% of Irish travel agents experience increase in bookings
ITAA Quarterly Survey results correlate with recent CSO travel figures
50% of Irish travel agents have seen an increase in bookings compared to the same period in 2015, according to the latest Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA) quarterly survey. These results correlate with the recent CSO figures which revealed that the total number of Irish residents’ trips overseas for the first five months of 2016 increased by 7.8% when compared with last year.
The results of the survey show that the Irish travel industry is continuing to prosper with 70% of travel agents surveyed seeing an increase in turnover for the second quarter of 2016 (April-June) compared to the same period in 2015.
The ITAA members survey also revealed that Spain is the most popular destination this summer, followed by Portugal and the USA. In 2015 1.68 million Irish residents travelled to Spain and this is set to rise to over 1.7 million in 2016.
In recognition of his valuable contribution towards Spanish tourism, Pat Dawson, CEO of the ITAA, was today awarded the Medal of the Order of Civil Merit at the behest of His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain.
Commenting on the findings, Pat Dawson said, “Spain has been Ireland’s number one destination for many years and this is down to its excellent tourist facilities, year-round sunshine and fantastic cultural attractions. For 2016, Spain also represents a safe and secure destination following months of unrest throughout Europe and beyond. It is fantastic to see travel agents, tour operators and suppliers working together to overcome the many challenges within the sector and ensure the growth of the Irish travel industry.”
Pat Dawson, ITAA CEO
When asked about the biggest travel trends in 2016 so far almost half of those surveyed named cruises. ‘Value for money’ was a requirement for many customers and, as a result, ‘all inclusive’ packages were high on peoples list of priorities. This ‘value for money’, personal service and sense of security are the primary reasons that Irish Travel Agents see 60% of their business come from returning customers.
The ITAA represents Ireland’s travel Industry, bringing together 100 travel agent members and 70 affiliate partners. ITAA members cover over 140 outlets in different towns and cities throughout the Republic of Ireland. All travel agent members are licensed by the Commission for Aviation Regulation and are fully bonded providing full financial protection for their customers.
