Latest news with #EoghanCorry
Extra.ie
11-06-2025
- Extra.ie
Thousands of sunbeds removed from Majorca beaches amid local backlash
As Majorca tackles an anti-tourist backlash, almost 2,000 sun loungers are being removed from some of the island's most popular beaches, including the famous Playa de Palma. The move comes after local residents expressed frustration over overcrowded beaches, struggling to find space for their own towels amidst rows of pay-per-use loungers and umbrellas. Playa de Palma, a six-kilometre-long hotspot, has seen its sun lounger numbers cut significantly, from 6,000 in 2024 down to 4,436 in 2025, with further reductions planned for 2026. Pic:Other beaches like Cala Major and Cala Estància are also seeing sunbed and parasol numbers trimmed, while Cab Pere Antoni city beach is facing a drastic halving of its sun lounger availability. The changes come at a time when tensions between tourists over limited sunbathing spots have already been rising, as videos of holidaymakers vying for prime positions frequently surface on social media. Adding to the mix, there are plans to introduce more expensive 'Premium loungers' on Playa de Palma and Cala Major – but of course, at a cost. This crackdown on beach furniture is part of a wider anti-tourism campaign gaining momentum in Palma, with up to 60 organizations set to stage a large-scale protest in the city this week. Irish holidaymakers heading to Majorca this summer should prepare for fewer sun loungers and a changing beach experience. Elsewhere, Irish holidaymakers heading to Portugal this summer are being warned they could face fines of up to €1,800 for wearing bikinis or swimwear in the streets of Albufeira. The popular Algarve resort has introduced stricter regulations to crack down on rowdy tourist behaviour, particularly during weekends, when the area sees an influx of partygoers. Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast this week, Air and Travel magazine editor Eoghan Corry said locals have 'had enough' of what they view as disrespectful conduct by visitors. Beachgoers sunbathe and swim at Oura beach in Albufeira, Algarve region, Portugal. Pic: Getty 'What they've done is taken existing regulations, beefed them up a little, and introduced a few new ones. 'The main focus is on drunkenness and absolutely obnoxious behaviour late at night.' Among the rules being more strictly enforced is a ban on wearing bikinis and swimwear away from the beach, with penalties starting at €500 and rising to as much as €1,800.
Irish Daily Mirror
10-06-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish tourists warned of €1,800 fines for wearing bikini in popular holiday spot
With more and more Irish tourists travelling to Portugal every year, a warning has been issued regarding new, stricter regulations in a popular holiday hotspot. New rules have been implemented in Albufeira with the aim of clamping down on rowdy tourist behaviour, especially on the weekends. Fines of between €500 and €1,800 will be issued to tourists for any behaviour deemed to be "boorish" because locals in the Portuguese city have simply "had enough." Eoghan Corry, editor of Air and Travel magazine, took to Newstalk to explain the harsher penalties, which will primarily focus on public intoxication but extends to the wearing of bikinis away from the beach. "What they've done is they've taken existing regulations and they've beefed them up a little bit and introduced a few new ones," Mr Corry explained. "The main thing that they're looking for is drunkenness and absolutely obnoxious behaviour late at night. "Interestingly enough, a lot of the regulations will apply to people wearing bikinis and swimwear in the street." Tourists are said to be increasingly concerned about the clampdown, which will make it interesting to see how many Irish visitors travel to Portugal this summer after more than 500,000 took a trip to sunny Portugal in 2024, an increase of 6.3 per cent from the previous year. It is understood that similar regulations are being considered in other Portuguese holiday destinations but these have not yet been approved. It comes as locals continue to vent their frustration about drunken and disruptive behaviour late in the night and particularly at weekends in Albufeira. "The fines are large," Mr Corry added. "I think you're talking about €1,800 at the top end and starting at €500. "[Regarding] the level of enforcement, it does sound like Albufeira could be going the direction of Saudi Arabia but I doubt that's going to happen any time soon."
Extra.ie
09-06-2025
- Extra.ie
Irish tourists warned: Fines of up to €1,800 for wearing a bikini on streets of Albufeira
Irish holidaymakers heading to Portugal this summer are being warned they could face fines of up to €1,800 for wearing bikinis or swimwear in the streets of Albufeira. The popular Algarve resort has introduced stricter regulations to crack down on rowdy tourist behaviour, particularly during weekends, when the area sees an influx of partygoers. Today's top videos STORY CONTINUES BELOW Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Air and Travel magazine editor Eoghan Corry said locals have 'had enough' of what they view as disrespectful conduct by visitors. Beachgoers sunbathe and swim at Oura beach in Albufeira, Algarve region, Portugal. Pic: Getty 'What they've done is taken existing regulations, beefed them up a little, and introduced a few new ones. 'The main focus is on drunkenness and absolutely obnoxious behaviour late at night.' Among the rules being more strictly enforced is a ban on wearing bikinis and swimwear away from the beach, with penalties starting at €500 and rising to as much as €1,800. The popular Algarve resort has introduced stricter regulations to crack down on rowdy tourist behaviour, particularly during weekends, when the area sees an influx of partygoers. Pic: Shutterstock 'Locals just want to have their town in some form of functioning order at midnight,' he said. 'That you can actually walk the street without the madness that shows up a lot on social media – holidaymakers, not necessarily from Ireland, jumping on cars or carrying open drinks around.' More than 500,000 Irish tourists travel to Portugal each year, with many flocking to the Algarve region for its year-round sunshine and lively nightlife.
Irish Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Irish bookings to US recover into 2026 following sharp fall
Irish bookings to the US are strong into 2026, according to the industry, following a brief collapse in travel across Europe widely attributed to political tensions and concerns over border controls. 'We did see a fall-off in bookings initially for the States [earlier in the year], but that has come back again,' said Ray Scully, managing director of American Holidays. Airlines reacted to softening demand with price discounts, while the exchange rate has also improved. Mr Scully said trading was about flat for the year, but bookings from October and into 2026 were now strong. 'I think people want to go to the States. So it's putting off the decision is what it looked like as opposed to, we're not going to travel,' he said of the recent lull. READ MORE The collapse in arrivals to the US from across Europe during March was widely perceived as a reflection of antipathy to the policies of the Trump administration. However, in Ireland at least, where travel to the US dropped 27 per cent at the end of the first quarter , data from the International Trade Administration (ITA) shows a 34 per cent bounce year on year for April. The steep turnaround has been put down to a number of factors influencing travel decisions, including a levelling off in sentiment on US politics and the fact that Easter fell at the end of March, disrupting comparative data. Eoghan Corry, editor of TravelExtra, noted that, as well as an increase in flight seats, Irish people are generally less inclined to stop visiting the US than other nationalities. 'So we are a little bit of an outlier in that we're probably a bit more resilient as a market to the negative publicity and the fears about US border control,' he said. 'The UK [which jumped 15 per cent in April] is more resilient as well because we're [both] very familiar with America. We don't see the Trump thing as being a game changer because all our cousins are there and we like people there and we're used to going over.' He noted that Ireland's 34 per cent bounce was not replicated across all European markets, despite countries such as France (down 12 per cent) having similar aviation timetables and Easter holidays. Overall passenger traffic from western European countries to the US dropped 17 per cent in March, according to the ITA, but that has bounced back and was up 12 per cent for April. The volte-face will be welcome news to US tourism following sharp commentary that came on foot of the March declines. Research firm Oxford Economics had said the fall-off in travel was attributable to an intensified 'America First' stance and the later timing of Easter. 'Policies and pronouncements from the Trump administration have contributed to a growing wave of negative sentiment,' it said. 'Heightened border security measures and visible immigration enforcement actions are amplifying concerns.'
RTÉ News
27-05-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Call for investigation into seven airlines for charging "undue" hand baggage fees
Eoghan Corry, Travel Extra editor, explains why European consumer groups are calling for an intervention in a row over whether airlines can charge for carry-on luggage.
