merrion street

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar today confirmed that talks are underway to abolish the €3 travel tax.

Minister Varadkar, speaking at the AGM of the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation, saidthe Government is hoping to make it easier for tourists from rapidly growing economies to visit Ireland.

With many overseas markets showing signs of recovery as well as a shift in the perception of Ireland as a good value destination, I believe we are moving into more favourable conditions. Numbers coming through our ports and airports are stabilising and starting to grow again, as is occupancy in our hotels

However, while economic prospects look brighter in some areas in much of Europe and North America there is still uncertainty, and we are still looking at levels of access far below what they were only a couple of years ago.

It is in that context that the Government has undertaken to abolish the €3 air travel tax – if a deal can be agreed with carriers to re-open closed routes from our source markets and bring more tourists into Ireland. I am already talking to the airlines about how they might respond.