6 UPDATE Demand for Irish,


HE vote to leave the EU has caused uncertainty for some Britons living abroad and even with some, a rethink about keeping their British


travel and work in Europe. passports.


Post offices in Northern Ireland too have experienced a run on applications for Irish Passports with the Irish Government bringing in extra staff to cater for the unexpected rush as young people particularly worry about preserving their right to freely


Ferry’s company’s Open hole in one!


STENA Line has scored a hole in one with its latest offer for golf fans to travel to Royal Troon in Scotland to watch the world’s greatest golfers compete for the famous Claret Jug at The Open Championship.


Golf enthusiasts will witness the legendary expertise of sporting heroes such as Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, Dustin Johnston, Jordan Speith, Rickie Fowler, Bubba Watson, Shane Lowry, Padraig Harrington and many more.


Fans can travel from only £99 return for a car and two adults from Tuesday, July 12 to Thursday, July 14 and £129 from Friday, July 15 to Sunday, July 17, departing from Belfast to Cairnryan (entry to The Open is not included).


Don’t forget kids travel free so bring along your budding Rory McIlory for a summer treat to remember.


Bookings must be made by July 10 – so be quick!


French passports T


July/August 2016 Travel News


The Foreign Office advice is that there are no immediate changes for Britons travelling or living within the EU. They still have the right to work in all EU countries, to travel in the normal way, to use their UK passports and other documentation and to their pensions and healthcare with the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).


Craig McGinty, who has been living in the Dordogne, south west France\, since 2009, believes that the "vast majority" of British people in France who voted will have backed Remain.


Mr McGinty, who runs a website aimed at English speakers in France called This French Life, said: "I think many people are accepting of it, although they face a long period of uncertainty.


"Some people are looking at securing passports from other EU countries, others have looked into the rules and regulations behind securing French citizenship. "Financially, many British people have an income source in sterling, be that a pension or employment, so they have seen an eight per cent fall in their spending power, as sterling became weaker immediately after the vote.


Catharine Higginson, who has been living in France for 13 years, and runs a website survivefrance.com has had numerous contacts from people who are thinking of trading in their British passports for a French one. Ms Higginson, who moved from Surrey to live in the Landes region of France, described Brexit as "an absolute catastrophe on so many levels - economically, financially and on a personal level."


She said: "Brexit is going to hit our retired expats in terms of their pension income - even losing maybe £100 which will impact their standard of living. They are already struggling - Brexit is bad news."


Over 500 runners took to the tarmac recently to compete in the second ever Grant Thornton Runway Run at George Best Belfast City Airport. Dame Mary Peters started the race, and is pictured with Finance Minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir MLA and Rick Gillan from Grant Thornton NI


Record number of runners take to the tarmac at Belfast City Airport


MORE than 500 runners, a record number, took to the tarmac recently to compete in the second ever Grant Thornton Runway Run at George Best Belfast City Airport.


The 5k race featured teams of four from large and small, businesses and organisations from the Travel Sector.


The event, which promotes teamwork through a unique networking event, also raised funds for this year’s chosen charity, the Mary Peters Trust. Richard Gillan, Managing Partner of Grant Thornton Northern Ireland said: “Here at Grant Thornton we strive to do things differently. We feel strongly about developing relationships within business, and see this as a wonderful opportunity for local businesses to network with each other. We are delighted with the response to the event again this year.


“Our thanks to George Best Belfast City Airport and Athletics NI for their support in organising the event, and of course to Dame Mary for starting the race.


“Congratulations to this year’s winners; Danske Bank in the mixed category, Hireco in the female category and John McKee Solictors in the male


category; and to the fastest male David Conliffe from the Department of the Economy and fastest female Una McConnell from the Department of Communities. Indeed, congratulations to all those who participated and I look forward to seeing you again next year!”


Finance Minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir MLA, who took part in the race for the first time said: “With over 500 participants the Grant Thornton Runway Run is going from strength to strength, it’s hard to believe this is only the event’s second year.


“Running 5k is an achievement for any runner, but doing it at night on a runway makes it a very unique occasion. I want to thank the organisers for inviting me to take part.”


Dame Mary Peters CH, DBE, said: "We were delighted that Grant Thornton chose the Trust as its charity partner for this event, and extend our thanks to all those who entered and donated money. “The Mary Peters Trust is committed to developing the future sportsmen and women of Northern Ireland, allowing them to reach their sporting goals. This event was a fantastic opportunity to encourage not only fitness and healthy competition, but networking and team building.”


Know your rights before you travel


AS THE annual summer holiday period gets underway the Northern Ireland Consumer Council is launching a ‘Summer Getaway’ campaign to help equip holiday makers with knowledge of their passenger rights and responsibilities.


Jenny Robinson, Transport Policy Officer at the Consumer Council said: “Many of us will head off and our journeys will be uneventful. However, in the unlikely event of getting caught up in a flight or sailing delay or cancellation, holidaymakers should be aware of their rights whilst travelling.


“If your journey is delayed or cancelled, you may be


entitled to assistance and in some cases compensation. In terms of assistance this could be meals and refreshments, telephone calls and emails and overnight accommodation while you wait.”


Jenny concluded: “The Consumer Council has a range of travel guides to help consumers understand their rights. These include Plane Facts, Plain Sailing, Access to Air Travel & Access to Ferry Travel for those with a disability or reduced mobility and travel podcasts which are available to download from the Consumer Council website www.consumercouncil.org.uk


Tourist boom for Thailand, Sri Lanka


LONG haul destinations are benefiting from the trend away from countries perceived as a higher risk from terrorism.


In particular Thailand and Sri Lanka are enjoying a tourist boom, particularly Sri Lanka where one survey shows that bookings have almost doubled this year.


The country forecasts that 2.2 million holidaymakers will visit the country this year alone - quite a turnaround given that as recently as 2009, the year its 26-year civil war ended, it was attracting fewer than 450,000 people.


However the island has bounced back as a tourist destination with its wealth of ancient Buddhist temples, verdant hill country, exceptional food, wildlife,beaches and diving.


Spain, US and Greece are still the top three destinations for summer holidays, according to Travel Counsellors, but Italy, Portugal and Cyprus have overtaken Turkey, which has fallen from fourth to eighth place following a 57 per cent drop in bookings, and bookings for more far flung destinations are on the rise.


It said bookings to Thailand were up 27 per cent over last year, whilst Canada and Barbados are up by 45 per cent and 24 per cent respectively with Sri Lanka up a massive 101 per cent.


Travel Counsellors said bookings to Egypt have dropped by 85 per cent, causing it to drop from 11th place last year to 85th, and Tunisia, which was 29th, has fallen off the chart since the Foreign Office is advising against travel.


Get to the gate on time or else - easyJet


EASYJET is warning passengers that they must turn up for flights from Gatwick at least 30 minutes before departure or they will be turned away.The airline has introduced the measure to try to improve punctuality at the airport, which is among the worst for delays.


EasyJet passengers are being told that if they're not at the gate at least 30 minutes before the flight departs, they won't be allowed to board. They will have to abandon their journey or pay a £80 fee to rebook on a later flight.


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