MORE THAN 600 hotels and bed and breakfasts have signed a charter designed to reassure tourists about volcanic ash cloud disruption.
The customer care charter was circulated to the tourism industry by Fáilte Ireland late last week. Minister for Tourism Mary Hanafin said many more businesses were expected to endorse it in the coming weeks.
Under the charter, cancellation fees will not apply where intending visitors cannot travel due to ash-related travel disruption. Contracted rates must be adhered to where visitors must extend their stay owing to the disruption.
Businesses also agree to do all they can to facilitate disrupted customers by providing laundry services and internet access, and assisting with medical prescriptions and travel arrangements.
Ms Hanafin said Ireland was the first country to produce an industry-wide commitment to its customers who were affected by ash-related travel delays.
She was speaking when she opened the Meitheal trade fair in Dublin yesterday. The fair was postponed last month because of the volcanic ash cloud.
More than 100 international tour operators from some 20 countries are attending the fair, which is the biggest trade event of the year for the Irish tourist industry.
Based on previous events, some 4,000 appointments will be made by over 380 Irish suppliers and operators during the fair.
Product workshops are also being held covering golf holidays, angling, boat trips, walking and cycling as well as cultural and heritage tourism attractions.
Some 40 local and artisan food producers under the Good Food Ireland banner are offering samples of their food to the visitors.
Ms Hanafin also launched the latest Good Eating Guide, which lists several hundred restaurants and other establishments serving food around the State.
