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Shannon expects better 2020

Shannon Airport is confident of a return to passenger growth this year after taking a significant hit from the grounding of Boeing's 737-Max aircraft and a Brexit-related downturn shannonapt

in UK visitors to Ireland during 2019.

"The global grounding of the Boeing 737-Max, for safety reasons, saw us lose 120,000 seats, which affected our Norwegian Airlines and Air Canada services to North America," said Mary Considine, chief executive of Shannon Group, the entity which owns the airport as well as Shannon Heritage, the Shannon Free Zone and Shannon Commercial Properties.

"This was a disproportionate hit for Shannon compared to other Irish airports. Last year also saw the ending of Kuwait Airways' transit flights through Shannon to New York, which we secured in June 2016 as a temporary service until the airline received approval for direct flights into the US," Ms Considine said.

Staycations feature at Holiday World

Staycations will be a major feature of the Holiday World Show Dublin which returns to the RDS Simmonscourt on its thirtieth year, taking place Friday 24th, Satur horses

day 25th and Sunday 26th January 2020.

More than 1,000 industry professionals will be there including, Africa, Asia, Middle East, Caribbean, Europe, South America, USA, Canada and the island of Ireland. Holiday World Show remains unmatched when it comes to providin

There are over 60 travel agents and tour operators offering holidays in Adventure, Activity, Safari, Luxury, Family, Home Holidays, 50+, Rail, City Breaks, Escorted Tours, French Campsites, Golf, Cruise River and Ocean, Spa & Wellness, Wedding & Honeymoons and Youth Travel or Staycation.

Irish holiday promoters at the show include Pure Cork which offers assistance in arts, culture and heritage activities alongside outdoor attractions, food, tours and shopping.

Tourist sues over bus fall

A Canadian tourist who fell down the stairs of a double decker tourist bus in Dublin when she claims it jerked after allegedly pulling in for St Patrick’s Cathedral has sttled her case in the High Court.

Retired real estate administrator Susan Riches claims she now suffers post concussion syndrome and has regular migraines after she was propelled down the stairs, hitting her head, suffering lacerations to her face and breaking a finger.

Mr Justice Bernard Barton was told it was the 63-year-old tourist’s case that she was thrown headlong down the stairs.

She was later diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder and she suffered nightmares and flashbacks and she now says she has a significant fear of stairs and escalators.

The bus operators and owners have claimed the bus had not stopped at the Cathedral but was stopped in traffic and had not reached the tour stop. They say it was an unfortunate accident but claim it was the tourist’s fault.

When the case resumed yesteday (Thursday), Mr Justice Bernard Barton was told that it was settled and could be struck out..

'Rose' Fest seeks permanent home

A permanent home for the Rose of Tralee International Festival has moved a step closer. roseot0120

Mayor of Tralee Cllr Jim Finucane (FG) has revealed that the council is to advertise later this month for expressions of interest from the private sector for a centre on a council-owned site at Fel’s Point in the town.

The centre would host the event, replacing the “dome” that has to be erected each year, and would also double as a major commercial exhibition and conference venue in for Kerry.

Advertisements seeking interest from developers will be placed in media from January 27,.

A 2,000 seat event centre that will accommodate a year round exhibition area for the festival, as well as hosting major sporting events conferences and large scale commercial events is envisaged.

Dublin tourism levy bid

Dublin City Council is to launch a fresh bid to charge a hotel bed tax or visitor levy on tourists to the capital. dublin0120

The council intends to begin a consultation with stakeholders including Fáilte Ireland and accommodation providers about the possibility of introducing some form of visitor levy.

Any new tax on tourists would need legislation to be passed by the Oireachtas.

The introduction of a tourist tax or visitor levy is included in the work programme of the council’s finance strategic policy committee. It said its previous requests to the Government to bring in a form of tourist tax had proven unsuccessful.