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A road map for the return of international travel could be ready next week, Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin has said.<\/p>\nA road map for the return of international travel could be ready next week, Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin has said.<\/p>\n
It comes as Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said the State is hoping to sign up to the EU\u2019s Digital Green Certificate \u201cas soon as possible\u201d.<\/p>\n
The issue is to be discussed at Cabinet next week and Ms Martin said a clear plan will be crucial for the recovery of Ireland\u2019s tourism sector.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cI hope next week Government will be providing a road map for international tourism. That is really, really critical for tourism to recover.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt accounts for 75 per cent of tourism revenue. I\u2019m acutely aware of that as Minister for Tourism and also of the supports that are needed, so there\u2019s no cliff-edge for the industry.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will be giving consideration to everything in the next week. And giving that road map to the industry and see what can happen with international tourism.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the context of the EU Digital Green Cert, we have hope there and we will be implementing that as soon as is possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Martin was speaking at the launch of F\u00e1ilte Ireland\u2019s Keep Discovering campaign, a \u20ac4 million marketing drive to rebuild the domestic tourism industry.<\/p>\n
The Digital Green Certificate is designed to facilitate the return of travel between EU member states.<\/p>\n
It will be available to people who have been vaccinated, have obtained a negative test for Covid-19, or have had the virus and recovered.<\/p>\n
Agreement in principle was reached among member states at the European Parliament on Thursday.<\/p>\n
It is expected to come into effect from the start of July, with a phasing-in period of six weeks for member states that need additional time to implement it.<\/p>\n
While Ireland was expected to introduce it closer to the end of the six-week period, Ms Martin and Mr Donnelly have signaled it will be done as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n
Speaking on RT\u00c9\u2019s Morning Ireland, Mr Donnelly said: \u201cThe finalized date for Ireland is being worked on and will be announced next week, but it is our intention to fully participate.<\/p>\n
\u201cCertainly the Government\u2019s view is that we need to participate in this as early as possible and when it is in place it will mean people who are fully vaccinated essentially can travel right across the European Union and then further afield.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know (European Commission president) Ursula von der Leyen, for example, has signaled they would very much like the United States and other countries to be involved in this as well.\u201d<\/p>\n