Budget cut an important first step for tourism firms to survive winter

Disappointingly the wage subsidy scheme, although extended, was not enhanced in value

Budget 2021 was an important first step and should give businesses an overdue acknowledgement that Government understands the crisis engulfing it.

Without over-dramatising it, the budget was the most important day in the history of Ireland’s proud tourism industry. Budget 2021 at home and an international travel agreement at the European level were both hugely important to thousands of businesses and tens of thousands of jobs.

The good news is that Ireland, along with the rest of the EU member states, signed up to a common framework that should in time, and assuming Ireland gets its act together on pre-travel testing, allow for the safe reopening of international inbound tourism.