Coach tour operators say more needs to be done to highlight Ireland's position as a safe country to visit at this stage of the pandemic.
The industry reported very strong bookings for tours after international travel restrictions were dropped in July, however many clients cancelled their bookings due to a lack of confidence.
A survey from the Coach Tourism and Transport Council of Ireland found 73% of Ireland's leading operators will be forced to reduce their workforce next year.
The group is calling on the government to continue supporting the industry until booking pick up early next year.
Speaking to RedFM News, Derry Cronin of Cronin's Coaches says the industry should be back on track by the end of next spring:
"We deal a lot with the North American market, and the messaging wasn't as good as it should have been in the marketplace about how safe Ireland is. But that's short term. The fact that we have had such a great vaccination campaign and response to the vaccination campaign, and the fact that Irish people themselves have taken such a responsibility - I think we've a long future in front of us. What was done was right, it's just really now about making sure that we get back to things as early as possible, which I think would be, kind of, next May is when we'd see the season starting."
