From cruising around the Mediterranean, to backpacking across South America, international travel is set to return full force this year. 'Revenge travel' is a phrase being used to describe the desire to travel that emerged last year, as people took to the skies, seas and roads to make up for the trips they missed due to the pandemic.
That desire to explore the world is set to continue in 2023, with travel agents across the country reporting a surge in demand this January. "We are very, very busy," said Clare Dunne, Managing Director of The Travel Broker in Dublin. "We are all working flat out to keep up with enquiries." For many travel agents, business is about to get even busier as the Holiday World Show takes place this weekend at the RDS after a three year absence.
The event aims to give people the inside track on where to visit, with travel experts from 50 countries around the world on hand to answer your questions. "The array of exhibitors demonstrates just how strong the travel industry is and the appetite amongst the public for travel," said Maria Hourican CEO of Holiday World Show. What are the top holiday destinations for 2023? Spain continues to be the most popular destination for Irish holiday goers, according to the Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA).
Paul Hackett, President of the ITAA and CEO of travel agent Click&Go, said Irish people make over two million trips to Spain every year. "Spain is 20 destinations in one," Mr Hackett explained. "You have the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, the Costas, the cities - and that is where the real volume is," he added.