Despite the post-2008 recession, 27% of Irish travel agencies still have the same staff numbers as they did five years ago, while as many as 43% have increased sales staff levels. Furthermore, not one agency expects to be employing less sales staff in 2015, while 27% expect their numbers to be increased. 
These are two of the results from a 13-question survey that Irish Travel Trade News sent on 2nd – 4th September 2014 to travel agencies throughout Ireland. The survey achieved a high response rate of 18% and the full results are included in a special 52-page publication, ‘50 Years in Irish Travel’, that commemorates ITTN’s 50th anniversary of service to the Irish travel industry.
Asked to rate how six specific sectors were performing in 2014, the two least performing, and given relatively high very poor/poor ratings, were ferries (48.5%) and car rentals (32%), while the two best performing sectors with the highest good/very good ratings were holidays (68%) and cruises (62.5%).
