Composite Image: Fáilte Ireland's new Covid-19 safety charter, with the Cliffs of Moher (stock). Almost six out of ten hotel rooms in Ireland lay empty in July, traditionally one of the busiest months of the year for tourism and hospitality. It is the largest ever year-on-year drop for Irish hotels in summer, it says. “While new and well-intentioned, the scheme is not inclusive of all guests and tourism businesses and is very convoluted and ignores the harsh reality of the challenges facing tourism." As of July 28, 31pc (or 816) of registered accommodation businesses in Ireland had signed up for the Charter, Fáilte Ireland said.

Source: Irish Independent July 31, 2020 09:00 UTC