Cost of living fears delaying travel plans for Irish holidaymakers
The Click&Go Holidays Travel Sentiment Survey found that 66% of more than 2,000 respondents said the cost of living in Ireland has influenced their decision when it came to booking a holiday. Around 70% of respondents are either waiting for holiday prices to fall (39%) or feel like holiday prices are too high (31%).
Some 72% have yet to book their 2025 holiday, but of those 85% are still planning to book in 2025.
Other factors that respondents ranked as influencing their holiday choices are the heat in holiday destinations during peak summer month (51%), anti-tourism protests (43%), fear of the impact of US tariffs (46%) and current geopolitical issues (68%).
The survey highlighted that sun holidays are still the most popular destination with over half (52%) booking a sun holiday this year.
The survey had 2,138 respondents and was carried out on behalf of Irish travel firm Click&Go Holidays. 'What the survey results show is that there is growing financial uncertainty and people are trying to make hard decisions in regard to their spending, this could be affecting bookings of holidays in 2025," said Click&Go Holidays chief executive Paul Hackett.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sunday World
26 minutes ago
- Sunday World
BBC journalist Stephen Nolan on coach stopped by Garda en route to Dublin
The presenter shared an image of the Garda van and his Irish passport on social media on Tuesday A coach carrying BBC presenter Stephen Nolan among its passengers was stopped by Garda as it travelled to Dublin. The presenter shared an image of the Garda van and his Irish passport on social media on Tuesday. 'Stopped by the Garda on the Dublin coach. Lucky I have my ID with me!' he wrote on Facebook. An Garda Síochána was asked about the incident but said they 'do not comment on third-party material posted on social media." However, a spokesperson confirmed the force carries out 'regular operational activities in the vicinity of the International Border with Northern Ireland, including joint cross border activity in line with the Cross Border Policing Strategy and the Cross Border Joint Agency Taskforce.' 'Operational activity includes routine Road Safety Checkpoints (including Mandatory Intoxicant Testing (MIT) Checkpoints) and Criminal Interdiction and Intelligence checkpoints,' they added. 'An Garda Síochána does not carry out permanent immigration checkpoints at any location along the border.' The spokesperson explained that the regular cross-border stops are part of operation Sonnet which specifically targets persons traveling across the border from Northern Ireland abusing the CTA – Common Travel Area. Stephen Nolan Bangor woman celebrates 100th birthday in style It is led by The Garda National Immigration Unit (GNIB). 'These operation have been conducted on a regular basis in 2023 and 2024, and during the 2nd half of 2024 have increased to deal with emerging trends surrounding the influx of persons entering Ireland from Northern Ireland for the purpose of claiming international protection,' they explained. "These persons are abusing the CTA and its integrity. 'GNIB also have a GNIB Officer deployed in Belfast, who operates between Belfast airport and port, and provides intelligence surrounding the possible moving of persons to the Republic of Ireland. "This GNIB Officer is an important aspect to Operation Sonnet. GNIB also have a two joint operations with Border Force, Home Office, UK; namely Operation Gull and Operation Comby. These operations also examine the movement of persons across the Irish border.' Stephen Nolan Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 8th
The Journal
an hour ago
- The Journal
Minister says Irish jobs will be lost to AI but she can't say how many (yet)
IRISH JOBS WILL be lost as a result of artificial intelligence (AI), Ireland's first ever minister for AI has said. Niamh Smyth, a junior minister at the Department of Enterprise, said it would be foolish not to admit that jobs will be displaced. However, she added that, in her opinion, Ireland cannot afford not to 'embrace AI'. The government is currently establishing a regulator to enforce the EU's new AI rules rules , while also trying to ensure Irish businesses reap the technology's benefits, and public services use it to become more efficient. Smyth said the government will also establish an 'AI Observatory' which will provide data on where jobs will be lost, how many are at risk, and how this can be mitigated. The minister was grilled on the extent to which the government will regulate companies' use of AI at the new Oireachtas committee on AI this morning. Sinéad Gibney of the Social Democrats said she was concerned that the government did not seem to be striking the right balance between supporting business to embrace AI and addressing the risks the technology poses, including job losses, greenhouse gas emissions and misinformation. Outlining her priorities to the committee, Smyth had said she particularly wanted to drive AI adoption and AI literacy among small and medium businesses. Advertisement Smyth's department is establishing a new independent AI office to provide legal guidance to businesses on how to comply with the EU's AI Act , with Smyth telling the committee this would provide much-needed certainty to businesses, and would be well-resourced when it's up and running in just over a year's time. Gibney noted that the government's own AI strategy, updated last October, states that the EU AI Act will place 'few, or no, obligations on most businesses who use AI'. She said the minister's own stated commitments were overwhelmingly focused on supporting businesses, rather than on managing the risks. Smyth said the EU Act took a 'risk-based approach' to protecting citizens. She said it was too early to say whether any domestic legislation to regulate the use of AI would be introduced. Meta AI Paul Murphy of People Before Profit questioned Smyth on recent reporting by The Journal on the conditions faced by content moderators training Meta AI at Covalen, an Irish outsourcing firm. Workers were asked to think like paedophiles and to spend entire work days creating suicide and self-harm related 'prompts' to regulate the responses given by Meta's AI products. Smyth said she was not familiar with the article but said the EU AI Act is intended to protect citizens, taking a 'risk-based approach'. 'The example you're giving there is a very cruel way of using workers, and it certainly wouldn't be acceptable here in Ireland,' Smyth said. Related Reads EU parliament approves 'historic' and wide-ranging new rules on AI 'This is happening in Ireland,' Murphy said. 'It's an Irish firm, Covalen, outsourced from Meta.' 'I'll have to come back to you on it,' Smyth responded. 'That is certainly not acceptable in terms of that treatment of workers.' Data centres Murphy also raised concerns that the minister's opening statement to the committee made no mention of the climate impact of AI, given its requirement for energy-hungry data centres. Smyth said she hoped Ireland could both embrace AI in an ethical way and meet its climate targets. She said that 'the energy question…has to be answered by the energy department'. 'There is no getting away from the fact that [data centre development] has put Ireland front and centre in being attractive to a lot of the companies who have come here,' Smyth said. Smyth said that, given her own background in the arts, as a graduate of the National College of Art and Design, her biggest concern about AI was its potential impact on the creative industries. 'We don't want their work stolen, used or scraped. We have a balancing act to achieve here that we do allow the right environment and ecosystem for the development of innovation and ensuring that we protect our citizens and the creative industries alongside that,' she said. She indicated Ireland's EU presidency next year provides an opportunity to showcase Ireland as a technology leader by hosting an AI summit or conference similar to an event hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron earlier this year. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
Popular Leitrim distillery secures Changing Times Brewery as exclusive beer provider
The partnership with The Shed Distillery in Drumshanbo means Changing Times Brewery will be the exclusive providers of draft stout and lager available to the 70,000 visitors who travel to the popular west of Ireland tourist attraction every year. Currently Changing Times Brewery make three draft products, Clockwork Velvet Stout, Daydreamer Lager and After Hours Pale Ale. It is expected that additional products will also be launched over the next 12 months. Speaking about the new partnership with The Shed Distillery, home of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin, founder and owner Patrick J. Rigney said there has been a fantastic reaction from customers to the Changing Times beers. "The whole story of the brewery is clearly striking a chord with visitors and the beers themselves are making a strong impression. "We obviously receive a lot of international visitors to The Shed Distillery and many of those will spend a portion of their time in the west of Ireland before travelling on to Dublin. "One of the trends we're seeing emerge is that people are trying Changing Times in The Shed Distillery and then seeking it out when they get to Dublin. 'Tourists really value Irish made, quality products and we fully believe this is something that makes Changing Times a natural fit for The Shed Distillery, while also creating an effective point of appeal for the brewery's beers. "Our expectation is that will continue to grow as more venues stock Changing Times, delivering even more change in the future,' Mr. Rigney concluded. Following strong public demand for the brewery's products an additional nine venues in Dublin and Cork, as well as The Shed Distillery, are now stocking Changing Times beers. These include Dublin pubs Nearys, Searsons, The Step Inn, The Sackville Lounge and Kavanagh's The Temple, as well as Cork premises Rising Sons Brewery Bar, The Fountain and The Fran Well. Between growing the number of venues stocking their products and the increased demand for their products in the founding pubs, Changing Times is now producing over 150 kegs per week, a figure which is expected to rise to 200 kegs per week before the end of the year. This is a marked increase on the 100 kegs per week they were brewing at the time of their launch. The brewery expects this will generate an additional €1.1 million in revenue by the end of 2026. The brewery is located along the banks of the Royal Canal in Glasnevin. It is backed by the publican families behind pubs such as Arthur Maynes in Donnybrook, The Bank Bar and Restaurant on College Green, The Bankers, The Blackrock, The Bridge 1859, Darkey Kellys, Devitts, Doheny Nesbitts, The Ferryman, Lemon & Duke, The Long Hall, McSorleys, The Palace, Sheehans on Chatham Street and The Swan. Other partners in Changing Times include publican Benny McCabe, owner of The Shed Distillery and drink's industry entrepreneur Patrick J. Rigney, as well as brewer Shane Long. Speaking about the growth of the brewery, Noel Anderson, Managing Director of Grand Slam Bars and one of the founding publicans behind Changing Times Brewery said, 'We are delighted to be working with some additional top class pubs and venues in Dublin, Cork and Leitrim to bring Changing Times's products to even more customers. "This has been a reflection of the tremendous interest we've had in our stout, lager and pale ale since we launched. We can clearly see the public has a taste for our products, which is already exceeding our early projections for the brewery. 'People want something that offers a change. "Beers that are new, authentic and refreshingly Irish. "These fantastic new venues that we are working with have picked up on that demand from their customers and know the importance of giving the public quality choices. "We're very proud to be working with these forward thinking venues who can see the need to reflect changing tastes and we hope to be able to announce further new venues in the near future,' Mr. Anderson said.
