ASH CAUSES TOURISM LOSSES OF OVER €50M

The travel disruption caused by the ash cloud cost Irish tourism about €50 million. Central Statistics Office figures quoted in the Business Post show that around 3,700 flights were due into Dublin, Cork and Shannon in the week up to April 22. The flights would have carried an estimated 120,000 tourists, who would have generated about €63.6 million for the economy.
The CSO estimates that only 30,000 visitors made it and their combined spend was €15.5 million. The Irish Hotels Federation estimated that there was a loss of 95,000 bed nights in hotels across the country and the Irish Tour Operators Association said many of their members had to cancel programmes but because it was so early in the season, they could salvage a high percentage of their group business through re-bookings.