By Michelle Crean

A local tourism body is calling for an extra Bank Holiday this year to help the tourism industry to recover from the devastating impact of COVID-19.

Kerry Tourism Industry Federation (KTIF) is supporting the call from Brendan Griffin TD and Junior Minister for Tourism for an extra Bank Holiday this September.

As part of the Tourism Recovery Taskforce’s Tourism Recovery Plan 2020-2023, it was recommended to add an additional bank holiday to the year during the off-peak season. This would give the industry a well-needed boost following another detrimental year. As homegrown tourism continues to be vital to the Irish and the Kerry tourism sector the addition of an extra Bank Holiday in particular in September is vital to the industry not only for the current year but important for future years. With only one Bank Holiday between summer and Christmas, this will extend the domestic season for the country and the county of Kerry into September and has the power to increase the domestic season annually.

“The industry continues to face challenges, with Government business and employment supports being fundamental to the survival of tourism," Chairman of KTIF, Pat O’ Leary, said.

"The addition of an extra Bank Holiday, in particular in September, will deliver that extra much-needed lift for the industry not only in Kerry but nationwide. Kerry continues to plan for events on the basis that health advice will allow them to take place and the addition of the extra bank holiday will support such events including the planned Listowel Races for September.”

This is a time for innovative solutions with a view to recovering the current situation and progressing measures for the future of the industry in the county. As homegrown tourism continues to be vital to the Kerry tourism sector the addition of the extra Bank Holiday in September 2021 will be beneficial to the sector and the county as a whole, he added.