Pat Dawson, chief executive of the Irish Travel Agents Association, last night expressed his delight at being awarded the Medal of the Order of Civil Merit at the behest of King Felipe VI of Spain.

Passenger numbers at Cork Airport are already soaring ahead of the launch of a new summer route to Madrid.

Spanish public officials are working towards the addition of new flight routes from Ireland to the southern province of Andalucia, the region’s minister for tourism and sport has announced.

Overseas weddings are on the wane since the demise of the Celtic Tiger, with couples reluctant to impose travel costs on guests, according to the president of the Irish Travel Agents Association.

More than 1m Irish sun-seekers will visit Spain this year, despite being all but pauperised by the recession and increased taxation.