Ireland: a mixed tourist season in Galway

Audio 02:33

By: Emeline Vin

Among the first sectors hit by the Covid epidemic: tourism. In Ireland, the season promised to be catastrophic. The island welcomed in 2019 more than 10 million foreign visitors, attracted by its picturesque landscapes and its traditional culture. To compensate, the government encourages citizens to "staycationner", including spending the holidays in the country. Report from our correspondent who traveled to the Galway region, one of Ireland's most popular destinations, to take stock of this season like no other.

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With his wife and their two children, John Obourne had planned a vacation in the sun, Covid obliges, they had to give up. “  We would have gone camping in Spain, but hey, we just spent three days here, last week we were in the north. It's beautiful, great, there is just the rain which limits the possibilities !  "

In the cobbled streets of the city, a lot of visitors, mask on the nose and very Irish accent. In the evening, it's difficult to find a table in restaurants, like at Quays, run by Seamus McGettigan: “  We work as well as possible, given the restrictions and protocols. I would say that we are at 35-40% of what we would have done normally, but we receive people from all over the country, it's nice to see ! Okay, that's not ideal, but it keeps us going, it's most important.  "

And yet, Galway in 2020 has nothing to do with the Galway of previous summers. It's the atmosphere that has changed. Tour guide Christelle Ward has been living in Galway for twenty years: “  At this time of year, there are lots of flocks. People gathering to see an Irish dancer, young people playing music. There isn't all that, absolutely nothing is happening… Zero ! The last group I had was at the end of January. There are still people in the streets, even this morning we saw the deliveries, but it is not the same atmosphere.  "

Because the only visitors are Irish. And they don't consume tourism like a foreigner would. Niall McNelis runs the Claddagh store, which sells the silver ring representing two hands around a heart, a symbol of Galway popular with international tourists: “  There, we have lost 80% compared to last year, we are very oriented American tourists. But the Irish on vacation don't come to shop, they come to drink, eat and be entertained. But we are confident, it will resume next year, when the tourists come back.  "

With back to school and travel restrictions, September promises to be dull. So the region's Chamber of Commerce is looking to stimulate Galway in a different way. Kenny Deery, its director: “  We have to reorient ourselves on our possibilities of teleworking. Someone who works in Dublin, or another city and works primarily on Zoom ... Come, come to Galway ! Enjoy a vacation by the sea, working during the day. Why not  !  "

The city also hopes to benefit from its status as European capital of culture, which will have made it possible to finance several advertising campaigns.

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• Ireland
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