IE
(LRC Revised)
Statutory Text (1 Articles)
Number 24 of 1939
TOURIST TRAFFIC ACT 1939
REVISED
Updated to 1 June 2025
Changes to legislation
as of 10 July 2026, this Act is up to date with all changes known to be in force.
This Revised Act is an administrative consolidation of the
Tourist Traffic Act 1939
. It is prepared by the Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under
the
Law Reform Commission Act 1975
(3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and consolidation
of statute law.
All Acts up to and including the
Finance (Provision of Access to Cash Infrastructure) Act 2025
(4/2025), enacted 20 May 2025, and all statutory
instruments up to and including the
Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2025
(S.I. No. 244 of 2025), made 4 June 2025, were
considered in the preparation of this Revised Act.
Disclaimer: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act,
the Law Reform Commission can assume no responsibility for and give no guarantees,
undertakings or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or up to date nature
of the information provided and does not accept any liability whatsoever arising from
any errors or omissions. Please notify any errors, omissions and comments by email
to
revisedacts@lawreform.ie.
Number
24
of
1939
TOURIST TRAFFIC ACT 1939
REVISED
Updated to 1 June 2025
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
PART I.
Preliminary and General.
Section
1.
Short title.
2.
Definitions.
3.
Expenses.
PART II.
Establishment and General Powers of the Irish Tourist Board.
4.
Constitution of the Irish
Tourist Board.
(Repealed)
5.
Disqualification of members of
Board from being members of the Oireachtas.
(Repealed)
6.
Common seal of the
Board.
(Repealed)
7.
Removal of members of the
Board.
(Repealed)
8.
Resignation and
disqualification of members of the Board.
(Repealed)
9.
Meetings and procedure of the
Board.
(Repealed)
10.
Accounts and audits.
(Repeaed)
11.
Officers and servants of the
Board.
(Repealed)
12.
Exercise of functions of Board
through its officers.
(Repealed)
13.
Disclosure of interest in
contract.
(Repealed)
14.
General powers of the
Board.
(Repealed)
15.
Non-repayable grant to the
Board.
(Repealed)
16.
Repayable advances to the
Board.
(Repealed)
17.
Payment of interest on
repayable advances.
(Repealed)
18.
Repayment of repayable
advances.
(Repealed)
19.
Compulsory acquisition of
land, etc., by the Board.
20.
Regulations.
21.
Furnishing of information by
the Board to the Minister.
(Repealed)
22.
Annual report, statistics and
returns.
(Repealed)
PART III.
Registration of Premises.
23.
Definitions for the purposes of Part III.
24.
The registers and their contents.
25.
Eligibility for registration in the respective registers.
25A.
Caravans and camping sites
26.
Applications for registration.
27.
Registration of premises.
28.
Duration of registration.
29.
Applications for renewal of registration.
30.
Renewal of registration.
31.
Registration certificates.
32.
Amendment of register in certain circumstances.
33.
Restriction on describing premises as a hotel.
34.
Restriction on describing premises as a guest house.
35.
Restriction on describing premises as a holiday hostel, etc.
36.
Restriction on describing premises as a youth hostel.
37.
Restriction on describing premises as a holiday camp.
37A.
Motor Hotels.
37B.
Caravan sites and camping sites.
37C.
Misrepresentation of
unregistered premises.
37D.
Register of holiday apartments.
38.
Exemptions.
39.
Grades.
40.
Devolution and transfer of registered premises.
41.
Inspection.
42.
Evidence of the contents of registers.
43.
Display of charges.
44.
External signs.
45.
Annual list of registered premises.
46.
Service of notices.
47.
Offences.
PART IV.
Establishment of Special Areas.
48.
Areas to which this Part of this Act applies.
49.
Conferring of powers on the Board in respect of areas to which this Part of this Act
applies.
50.
Amendment and revocation of orders under this Part of this Act.
51.
Laying of orders under this Part of this Act before Houses of the Oireachtas.
PART V.
Amendment of the Tourist Traffic (Development) Act
, 1931.
52.
Amendment of the Tourist Traffic (Development) Act, 1931.
Acts Referred to
Local Authorities (Officers and Employees) Act, 1926
No. 39 of 1926
Town and Regional Planning Act, 1934
No. 22 of 1934
Tourist Traffic (Development) Act, 1931
No. 15 of 1931
Number
24
of
1939
TOURIST TRAFFIC ACT 1939
REVISED
Updated to 1 June 2025
AN ACT TO MAKE FURTHER AND BETTER PROVISION FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
OF THE TOURIST TRAFFIC, AND FOR THAT PURPOSE TO ESTABLISH A BOARD HAVING POWERS OF
REGULATION, REGISTRATION, AND CONTROL IN MATTERS RELATING TO THE TOURIST TRAFFIC AND,
IN PARTICULAR, THE ACCOMMODATION AND ATTRACTIONS AVAILABLE FOR TOURISTS, AND TO PROVIDE
FOR THE CHARGING OF FEES BY SUCH BOARD IN RESPECT OF REGISTERS KEPT BY THEM, AND TO
PROVIDE FOR DIVERS MATTERS ANCILLARY TO OR CONNECTED WITH THE MATTERS AFORESAID. [27
th July
, 1939.]
BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:—
Annotations
Modifications (not altering text)
C1
Functions transferred and
references to Minister for and Department of
Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht,
Sport and Media
construed as
Enterprise, Trade and Employment
(1.06.2025) by
Tourism (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial
Functions) Order 2025
(S.I. No. 174 of 2025), arts. 2 and 3, in effect as
per art. 1(2), subject to transitional provisions in arts. 4-8.
2. (1) The administration
and business in connection with the exercise, performance or execution of any
functions transferred by Article 3 are transferred to the Department of
Enterprise, Trade and Employment
(2) References to the
Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media contained in any
Act or any instrument made under an Act and relating to any administration and
business transferred by paragraph (1) shall, from the commencement of this Order,
be construed as references to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and
Employment.
3. (1) The functions vested
in the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media by or under
the provisions of the—
(
a
) Tourist Traffic
Act 1939 (No. 24 of 1939),
(
b
) National Tourism
Development Authority Act 2003 (No. 10 of 2003), and
...
are transferred to the
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
...
The history of the Ministers
concerned with the collectively cited
Tourist Traffic Acts
can be traced as
follows
• Functions transferred and
references to Minister for
Industry and Commerce
construed as
Transport
and Power
(31.10.1961) by
Transport, Fuel and Power (Transfer of
Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 1961
(S.I. No. 246 of 1961);
• Functions transferred and
references to Minister for
Transport and Power
construed as
Tourism and
Transport
(23.09.1977) by
Transport and Power (Alteration of Name of
Department and Title of Minister) Order 1977
(S.I. No. 305 of 1977), in
effect as per art. 1(2);
• Functions transferred and
references to Minister for
Tourism and Transport
construed as
Industry,
Commerce and Tourism
(24.01.1980) by
Tourism (Transfer of Departmental
Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1980
(S.I. No. 8 of 1980),
arts. 3 and 4, in effect as per art. 1(2);
• Name of Minister for
Industry, Commerce and Tourism
changed to
Trade, Commerce and
Tourism
(21.08.1981) by
Industry, Commerce and Tourism (Alteration of
Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1981
(S.I. No. 290 of
1981), in effect as per art. 1(2);
• Name of Minister for
Trade, Commerce and Tourism
changed to
Industry, Trade, Commerce and
Tourism
(17.12.1983) by
Trade, Commerce and Tourism (Alteration of Name
of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1983
(S.I. No. 384 of 1983), in
effect as per art. 1(2);
• Functions transferred and
references to Minister for
Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism
construed
as
Fisheries and Forestry
(18.02.1986) by
Tourism (Transfer of
Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1986
(S.I. No.
42 of 1986), in effect as per art. 1(2);
• Name of Minister for
Fisheries and Forestry
changed to
Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry
(19.02.1986) by
Fisheries and Forestry (Alteration of Name of Department and
Title of Minister) Order 1986
(S.I. No. 40 of 1986), in effect as per art.
1(2);
• Name of Minister for
Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry
changed to the
Marine
(19.03.1987) by
Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry (Alteration of Name of
Department and Title of Minister) Order 1987
(S.I. No. 82 of 1987), in
effect as per art. 1(2);
• Functions transferred and
references to Minister for the
Marine
construed as
Tourism and
Transport
(31.03.1987) by
Tourism (Transfer of Departmental
Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1987
(S.I. No. 95 of 1987),
in effect as per art. 1(2);
• Name of Minister for
Tourism and Transport
changed to
Tourism, Transport and
Communications
(7.02.1991) by
Tourism and Transport (Alteration of Name
of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1991
(S.I. No. 25 of 1991), in
effect as per art. 1(2);
• Functions transferred and
references to Minister for
Tourism, Transport and Communications
construed
as
Energy
(20.01.1993) by
Tourism (Transfer of Departmental
Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1993
(S.I. No. 15 of 1993;
• Name of Minister for
Energy
changed to
Tourism and Trade
(20.01.1993) by
Energy
(Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1993
(S.I.
No. 16 of 1993), in effect as per art. 1(2);
• Name of Minister for
Tourism and Trade
changed to
Tourism, Sport and Recreation
(12.07.1997) by
Tourism and Trade (Alteration of Name of Department and Title
of Minister) Order 1997
(S.I. No. 304 of 1997), in effect as per art.
1(2);
• Name of Minister for
Tourism, Sport and Recreation
changed to
Arts, Sport and Tourism
(19.06.2002) by
Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Alteration of Name of Department
and Title of Minister) Order 2002
(S.I. No. 309 of 2002), in effect as per
art. 1(2);
• Name of Minister for
Arts, Sport and Tourism
changed to
Tourism, Culture and Sport
(2.05.2010) by
Arts, Sport and Tourism (Alteration of Name of Department and
Title of Minister) Order 2010
(S.I. No. 178 of 2010), in effect as per art.
1(2);
• Functions transferred and
references to Minister for
Tourism, Culture and Sport
construed as
Transport
(1.04.2011) by
Tourism and Sport (Transfer of Departmental
Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011
(S.I. No. 140 of 2011,
in effect as per art. 1(2);
• Name of Minister for
Transport
changed to
Transport, Tourism and Sport
(2.04.2011) by
Transport (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order
2011
(S.I. No. 141 of 2011), in effect as per art. 2(1);
• Functions transferred and
references Minister for
Transport, Tourism and Sport
construed as
Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
(16.09.2020) by
Tourism and Sport
(Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order
2020
(S.I. No. 356 of 2020), in effect as per art. 1(2;
• Name of Minister for
Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
changed to
Tourism, Culture,
Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
(30.09.2020) by
Culture, Heritage and
the Gaeltacht (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order
2020
(S.I. No. 403 of 2020), in effect as per art. 1(2);
• Functions transferred and
references to Minister for
Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and
Media
construed as
Enterprise, Trade and Employment
(1.06.2025) by
Tourism (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions)
Order 2025
(S.I. No. 174 of 2025), in effect as per art. 1(2).
Annotations
Modifications (not altering text)
C1
Functions transferred and
references to Minister for and Department of
Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht,
Sport and Media
construed as
Enterprise, Trade and Employment
(1.06.2025) by
Tourism (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial
Functions) Order 2025
(S.I. No. 174 of 2025), arts. 2 and 3, in effect as
per art. 1(2), subject to transitional provisions in arts. 4-8.
2. (1) The administration
and business in connection with the exercise, performance or execution of any
functions transferred by Article 3 are transferred to the Department of
Enterprise, Trade and Employment
(2) References to the
Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media contained in any
Act or any instrument made under an Act and relating to any administration and
business transferred by paragraph (1) shall, from the commencement of this Order,
be construed as references to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and
Employment.
3. (1) The functions vested
in the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media by or under
the provisions of the—
(
a
) Tourist Traffic
Act 1939 (No. 24 of 1939),
(
b
) National Tourism
Development Authority Act 2003 (No. 10 of 2003), and
...
are transferred to the
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
...
The history of the Ministers
concerned with the collectively cited
Tourist Traffic Acts
can be traced as
follows
• Functions transferred and
references to Minister for
Industry and Commerce
construed as
Transport
and Power
(31.10.1961) by
Transport, Fuel and Power (Transfer of
Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 1961
(S.I. No. 246 of 1961);
• Functions transferred and
references to Minister for
Transport and Power
construed as
Tourism and
Transport
(23.09.1977) by
Transport and Power (Alteration of Name of
Department and Title of Minister) Order 1977
(S.I. No. 305 of 1977), in
effect as per art. 1(2);
• Functions transferred and
references to Minister for
Tourism and Transport
construed as
Industry,
Commerce and Tourism
(24.01.1980) by
Tourism (Transfer of Departmental
Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1980
(S.I. No. 8 of 1980),
arts. 3 and 4, in effect as per art. 1(2);
• Name of Minister for
Industry, Commerce and Tourism
changed to
Trade, Commerce and
Tourism
(21.08.1981) by
Industry, Commerce and Tourism (Alteration of
Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1981
(S.I. No. 290 of
1981), in effect as per art. 1(2);
• Name of Minister for
Trade, Commerce and Tourism
changed to
Industry, Trade, Commerce and
Tourism
(17.12.1983) by
Trade, Commerce and Tourism (Alteration of Name
of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1983
(S.I. No. 384 of 1983), in
effect as per art. 1(2);
• Functions transferred and
references to Minister for
Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism
construed
as
Fisheries and Forestry
(18.02.1986) by
Tourism (Transfer of
Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1986
(S.I. No.
42 of 1986), in effect as per art. 1(2);
• Name of Minister for
Fisheries and Forestry
changed to
Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry
(19.02.1986) by
Fisheries and Forestry (Alteration of Name of Department and
Title of Minister) Order 1986
(S.I. No. 40 of 1986), in effect as per art.
1(2);
• Name of Minister for
Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry
changed to the
Marine
(19.03.1987) by
Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry (Alteration of Name of
Department and Title of Minister) Order 1987
(S.I. No. 82 of 1987), in
effect as per art. 1(2);
• Functions transferred and
references to Minister for the
Marine
construed as
Tourism and
Transport
(31.03.1987) by
Tourism (Transfer of Departmental
Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1987
(S.I. No. 95 of 1987),
in effect as per art. 1(2);
• Name of Minister for
Tourism and Transport
changed to
Tourism, Transport and
Communications
(7.02.1991) by
Tourism and Transport (Alteration of Name
of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1991
(S.I. No. 25 of 1991), in
effect as per art. 1(2);
• Functions transferred and
references to Minister for
Tourism, Transport and Communications
construed
as
Energy
(20.01.1993) by
Tourism (Transfer of Departmental
Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1993
(S.I. No. 15 of 1993;
• Name of Minister for
Energy
changed to
Tourism and Trade
(20.01.1993) by
Energy
(Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1993
(S.I.
No. 16 of 1993), in effect as per art. 1(2);
• Name of Minister for
Tourism and Trade
changed to
Tourism, Sport and Recreation
(12.07.1997) by
Tourism and Trade (Alteration of Name of Department and Title
of Minister) Order 1997
(S.I. No. 304 of 1997), in effect as per art.
1(2);
• Name of Minister for
Tourism, Sport and Recreation
changed to
Arts, Sport and Tourism
(19.06.2002) by
Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Alteration of Name of Department
and Title of Minister) Order 2002
(S.I. No. 309 of 2002), in effect as per
art. 1(2);
• Name of Minister for
Arts, Sport and Tourism
changed to
Tourism, Culture and Sport
(2.05.2010) by
Arts, Sport and Tourism (Alteration of Name of Department and
Title of Minister) Order 2010
(S.I. No. 178 of 2010), in effect as per art.
1(2);
• Functions transferred and
references to Minister for
Tourism, Culture and Sport
construed as
Transport
(1.04.2011) by
Tourism and Sport (Transfer of Departmental
Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011
(S.I. No. 140 of 2011,
in effect as per art. 1(2);
• Name of Minister for
Transport
changed to
Transport, Tourism and Sport
(2.04.2011) by
Transport (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order
2011
(S.I. No. 141 of 2011), in effect as per art. 2(1);
• Functions transferred and
references Minister for
Transport, Tourism and Sport
construed as
Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
(16.09.2020) by
Tourism and Sport
(Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order
2020
(S.I. No. 356 of 2020), in effect as per art. 1(2;
• Name of Minister for
Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
changed to
Tourism, Culture,
Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
(30.09.2020) by
Culture, Heritage and
the Gaeltacht (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order
2020
(S.I. No. 403 of 2020), in effect as per art. 1(2);
• Functions transferred and
references to Minister for
Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and
Media
construed as
Enterprise, Trade and Employment
(1.06.2025) by
Tourism (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions)
Order 2025
(S.I. No. 174 of 2025), in effect as per art. 1(2).
Section
1.
Short title.
2.
Definitions.
3.
Expenses.
PART II.
Establishment and General Powers of the Irish Tourist Board.
4.
Constitution of the Irish
Tourist Board.
(Repealed)
5.
Disqualification of members of
Board from being members of the Oireachtas.
(Repealed)
6.
Common seal of the
Board.
(Repealed)
7.
Removal of members of the
Board.
(Repealed)
8.
Resignation and
disqualification of members of the Board.
(Repealed)
9.
Meetings and procedure of the
Board.
(Repealed)
10.
Accounts and audits.
(Repeaed)
11.
Officers and servants of the
Board.
(Repealed)
12.
Exercise of functions of Board
through its officers.
(Repealed)
13.
Disclosure of interest in
contract.
(Repealed)
14.
General powers of the
Board.
(Repealed)
15.
Non-repayable grant to the
Board.
(Repealed)
16.
Repayable advances to the
Board.
(Repealed)
17.
Payment of interest on
repayable advances.
(Repealed)
18.
Repayment of repayable
advances.
(Repealed)
19.
Compulsory acquisition of
land, etc., by the Board.
20.
Regulations.
21.
Furnishing of information by
the Board to the Minister.
(Repealed)
22.
Annual report, statistics and
returns.
(Repealed)
PART III.
Registration of Premises.
23.
Definitions for the purposes of Part III.
24.
The registers and their contents.
25.
Eligibility for registration in the respective registers.
25A.
Caravans and camping sites
26.
Applications for registration.
27.
Registration of premises.
28.
Duration of registration.
29.
Applications for renewal of registration.
30.
Renewal of registration.
31.
Registration certificates.
32.
Amendment of register in certain circumstances.
33.
Restriction on describing premises as a hotel.
34.
Restriction on describing premises as a guest house.
35.
Restriction on describing premises as a holiday hostel, etc.
36.
Restriction on describing premises as a youth hostel.
37.
Restriction on describing premises as a holiday camp.
37A.
Motor Hotels.
37B.
Caravan sites and camping sites.
37C.
Misrepresentation of
unregistered premises.
37D.
Register of holiday apartments.
38.
Exemptions.
39.
Grades.
40.
Devolution and transfer of registered premises.
41.
Inspection.
42.
Evidence of the contents of registers.
43.
Display of charges.
44.
External signs.
45.
Annual list of registered premises.
46.
Service of notices.
47.
Offences.
PART IV.
Establishment of Special Areas.
48.
Areas to which this Part of this Act applies.
49.
Conferring of powers on the Board in respect of areas to which this Part of this Act
applies.
50.
Amendment and revocation of orders under this Part of this Act.
51.
Laying of orders under this Part of this Act before Houses of the Oireachtas.
PART V.
Amendment of the Tourist Traffic (Development) Act
, 1931.
52.
Amendment of the Tourist Traffic (Development) Act, 1931.
Number
24
of
1939