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China honours Irish Tourism

Ireland has been named one of the top ten ‘most anticipated destinations’ at a travel awards ceremony in China. china0421

Iris Wang, Tourism Ireland, is pictured accepting the award for Ireland being named one of the ‘top ten most anticipated destinations’ for Chinese travellers, at WITrip’s travel awards ceremony in Shanghai.

The award was presented to Tourism Ireland in Shanghai, at a ceremony organised by WITrip – a high-end travel magazine. The awards celebrate excellence in travel and the winners are voted by readers of the magazine, as well as by a jury of travel experts. At the ceremony, Ireland was named one of the ‘top ten most anticipated destinations’ for Chinese travellers, along with countries like France, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, South Africa and Montenegro.

Tourism Ireland also recently scooped another award in China – at the 16th annual National Tourism Fashion Awards in Beijing. National Tourism is a well-known Chinese travel trade publication and the accolade was for the ‘Top 10 Destination Promotion Breakthrough Award’. Tourism Ireland was named with other national tourist boards, including VisitBritain, Tourism Australia, Destination Canada, Visit Hungary and the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi – in the category which recognises ‘outstanding marketing efforts’.

June start for Staycation Summer ?

There is growing optimism that the easing of restrictions will be brought forward to allow for a summer of staycations from June. wawvan1811

While it had been expected that nationwide travel would not be allowed before July, the Government and health officials say the country is in a significantly better place than had been expected, and this date is now likely to be brought forward.

While an official announcement will not be made until the end of this month, ministers will this week begin planning for a further easing of restrictions.

"A summer of staycations and domestic tourism is really the likelihood now," one minister said. "That wasn't always the case, but it's looking very likely now."

Ireland in China Showcase

Tourism Ireland is attending the New Horizons: EUROPE Virtual Travel Trade Show in China this week. . chinatiurists

The five day online B2B event is organised by the European Travel Commission and will be attended by around 200 Chinese travel buyers. Over the next five days, tourism companies from Ireland will join Tourism Ireland at its virtual booth, meeting with the key travel buyers from China – via a series of one-to-one video appointments.

The aim is to showcase Irend to these influential travel buyers, to position us well for when the time is right to welcome Chinese, and other international, visitors once again.

Aisling McDermott, Tourism Ireland’s Manager Asia and Middle East: “We are really pleased to take part in the New Horizons: EUROPE Virtual Travel Trade Show in China.

Hotelier loses insurance case

The operator of Dublin's Clarence Hotel has lost a High Court action against Axa claiming it was entitled to cover under business-interruption insurance as a result of the Covid

pandemic.

Brushfield, trading as the Clarence Hotel, claimed it was entitled to be compensated for losses due to the lockdowns under its insurance policy.

Mr Justice Denis McDonald said he had not been persuaded that cover is available under the specific terms of the Axa policy for losses as a result of the closure of the hotel and its Octagon bar in the wake of government advice on Covid.

Despite the best efforts of Brushfield's legal team, the facts cannot be brought within any of the relevant clauses of the Axa policy so as to secure cover, he said.

Brushfield, part of the Press Up Entertainment Group, sued Axa Insurance and the broker, Arachas Corporate Brokers. The defendants denied the claims.

Pubs mark 400 closed days

Publicans in Dublin have called for beer gardens to be opened up across the country from May 24th in line with those in Northern Ireland.

Pubs that do not serve food, will have been closed in the capital for 400 days on Tuesday as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. They represent approximately a third of all the pubs in Dublin.

All pubs in the Republic were closed on March 15th last year. Those that served food in Dublin had a brief reopening during the summer and at Christmas time, but have been closed for most of that time.

The Licensed Vintners Association (LVA), which represents pubs in Dublin, has launched a “call to action” on the 400th consecutive day of closure for wet pubs.