Current covid restrictions in relation to travelling to Ireland and touring with Scotia Ireland Tours in 2021.

Greetings from Ireland folks. I hope that you are all doing well and keeping safe and healthy at this difficult time. I know that many of our travellers have already received the second vaccine and are now fully vaccinated. If not I would encourage you to do so as proof of full vaccination may be necessary for travel to Europe. The current outlook in Ireland is very positive at this time as the vaccine rollout has gathered pace over the last month and is proceeding more rapidly than projected,  many restrictions have now been lifted or eased.

We are in constant communication with all of our tour hotels and the various visitor locations on the tour itinerary.

The easing of current restrictions is laid out below.

From 17 May 2021:

All non-essential shops can reopen

From 2 June 2021:

Hotels and bed and breakfasts can reopen services for guests only.

From 7 June 2021:

You can have visitors to your home from one other household.

Wedding receptions can have up to 25 in attendance

Gyms, swimming pools and leisure centres can reopen

Restaurants and bars can reopen for outdoor service for groups of up to 6 people

Sports matches can be held without an audience.

For the full list of current restrictions please check this link below

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/covid19/living_with_covid19_plan.html#

We are cautiously optimistic that our  tours from July onwards will proceed as planned, however we need two travel restrictions in particular to be lifted.

1. Currently all travellers to Ireland arriving from the United States are subject to mandatory hotel quarantine for a period of 14 days. This must be pre-booked in advance of travel.

These arrangements also apply to any passenger who is travelling on to Northern Ireland from the Republic of Ireland.

2. Reduced capacity on public and private road transport is currently at 50% of seating capacity. (If your group numbers are between 10 and 24 guests we have the option of operating a full size coach to proceed with you tour as planned at no extra cost to you)

To successfully operate your tour the above restrictions must be lifted by July.

However as each day passes I am more optimistic and my gut feeling is that our tours will proceed as planned, that said Scotia Ireland will never operate a tour until the Government advises that it’s ok to do so, and when Ireland is again opened up to the level which allows us to give you the full immersive experience of this beautiful Emerald Isle that we love to showcase to our friends.

Also remember if your tour cannot proceed as planned and we need to defer to 2022, we have a policy of giving full refunds or you may defer to another Scotia Ireland tour in 2022  as per our terms and conditions.

So folks my advice is to keep your dates open and keep an eye on flights and as always I am available to you by phone and if you need me to call you to update you on the current situation at anytime just email and I will call you right back.

info@scotiaireland.ie

In the meantime take care of each other, be safe and get vaccinated as soon as possible. Stay positive.

Warm Regards

Con O’Leary

Managing Director

Scotia Ireland Tours Ltd.