80% of Self Catering Holiday Homes will re-open in 2020

A recent survey amongst members of the Irish Self Catering Federation shows that 80% will re-open for business in 2020; of the 90% cancelled bookings, 50% postponed their holiday and 50% cancelled completely and requested refunds.   The 80% of business through global portals came from overseas and guests were refunded without any discussion with the owner in most cases.  Owners who kept control of their availability, combining direct with portals, were more successful in negotiating a postponement because they had a conversation with guests who booked direct.

Traditionally after a crisis which imposes travel restrictions, domestic tourism gets back on its feet first.  But the question is whether businesses will actually survive and be in a position to re-open at all? And with the loss of so many jobs, will anyone have the money or time to take a holiday of any sort?  For the remainder of 2020 any tourist bookings will probably be from the domestic market, with little inbound or outbound travel plans being made. ‘Stay Home’ may be a term that the Tourism sector will continue to use, this time to   encourage people to holiday at home when Ireland re-starts the transition back to normality.  With the focus on Ireland, Failte Ireland’s campaign Keep Discovering was never so apt.   I believe there will be a real drive and desire to keep marketing local, to buy Irish and to support indigenous Irish businesses as we move back to re-build commerce.    Let’s hope that all is not lost with summer still a few weeks away.