Some 10,000 people thronged Dublin’s RDS looking for one-off deals on the opening day of the Holiday World Show.

The closure of tour operator Thomas Cook’s Irish operation is likely to lead to higher prices for holidaymakers.

Travel company Thomas Cook is planning to close its Dublin-based sales office as part of a review of its Irish operations, with the potential loss of 44 jobs.

Cash-strapped families are cutting back on the annual sun holiday while the over-50s are taking to the skies more, according to the head of the Irish Travel Agents’ Association (ITAA).

Holidaymakers are still jetting off to the sun with the number of overseas trips this year expected to top last year’s figure of 6m.

Travel agents are now pitching some of their best deals on the website of umbrella group, the ITAA, after admitting it needed to push for more business in the holiday market.

Thriving sales this year have led a number of airlines, travel agents, and tour operators to launch a nationwide drive to recruit more than 100 staff.

PASSENGER numbers are plunging, Europe’s biggest airline say it’s too expensive to operate there and local businessmen are complaining that the place is empty.

TRAVEL agents may introduce charges to deter people from tapping into their expertise and then booking holidays through the internet.

THE incoming head of the Irish Travel Agents’ Association says he’s concerned that Cork Airport management aren’t doing enough to attract new business.

FOREIGN holidays are being put on the back-burner as the recession continues to affect the numbers travelling abroad.

TOURISM leaders have hit out at the new air travel tax, which they claim will cost jobs in hotels, airports, airlines and other sectors of the industry against a background of falling visitor numbers.

A third travel company has gone bust this summer with up to 500 people set to lose their holidays, it was revealed today.

THE Labour Relations Commission (LRC) has little more than 48 hours to find a resolution between Aer Lingus and its 480 pilots before they are suspended and thousands of passengers are grounded.

HOLIDAYMAKERS and business travellers spent a record €1.3 billion on foreign travel in just three months this year thanks to the growing popularity of low-cost flights.

MISERABLE weather throughout June has brought bumper business to the country’s airports.

Last minute travel deals are being snapped up by Irish holidaymakers disillusioned by the continuing bad weather, the Irish Travel Agents’ Association said today.

DISGRUNTLED fans of Liverpool who paid top rates to get to the Champions League final in Athens will be able to get a refund from their travel agent if they missed the game, industry bosses said last night.

THE board of Cork Airport was called on last night to offer its marketing manager a new contract.

TICKETS for Ireland’s World Cup qualifier against France in Paris on Saturday are sold out. Airlines and ferries all report heavy booking and for most people it’ll be the first time seeing Ireland play in front of 80,000 people.

WE’RE travelling abroad more, but for shorter holiday breaks and business trips, statistics released yesterday show.

The Irish Travel Agents’ Association has promised to refund Irish tourists who have booked holidays on the Indonesian island of Bali.

Thousands of people suffered travel disruption today when Aer Lingus pilots began a one-day strike.