Tourism groups say they're hoping more international travel can resume in the summer after a 'catastrophic' 2020.
They say it's time to start planning now so the sector doesn't lose a second summer in a row.
Travel agents aren't expecting an immediate recovery, but have said they're hopeful 'significant' numbers of people will be able to travel by mid-summer.
British airline EasyJet, meanwhile, says bookings for this summer are up 250% on last year.
It comes continued uncertainty over the exact timelines for COVID-19 vaccinations, as well as calls by some experts for existing travel restrictions to be tightened until the pandemic is under control.
Eoghan O’Mara Walsh, Chief Executive of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation, told Newstalk Breakfast that the tourism sector received an 'absolute wallop' last year.
He said: “The travel and tourism sector has been disproportionately hit by the pandemic - last year the inbound tourism industry into Ireland was down around 85% in revenue, and there were 160,000 job losses.
“We lost one summer to overseas tourism in Ireland which was catastrophic. To lose two summers in a row would be terminal to thousands of businesses.
“We certainly won’t get anywhere near 2019 levels, but we need to start planning for recovery - that includes getting international aviation resumed in a safe, sensible and prudent manner. There are too many jobs and livelihoods at stake."
Mr O'Mara Walsh said nobody is talking about allowing visitors in 'next week or next month', but there is a need to look towards the summer.
He warned there's a 'long-term economic legacy' if the country doesn't get the approach right.
'Pent-up frustration'
CEO of CityJet Pat Byrne, meanwhile, said he's not surprised there's been an uptick in bookings already.
He said: “There’s such a pent-up frustration among people imprisoned in their own homes and not being able to go to work… I’m not at all surprised that people have aspirations to travel this summer.
“I sincerely hope the vaccine will not be the determining factor [for] whether people can travel or not - I think proof of not being infectious is a far more sensible way to go."
While many experts have cautioned rapid COVID-19 antigen tests aren't as reliable as PCR tests, Mr Byrne said he 'absolutely believes' they'll be effective enough for the aviation industry's purposes.
He called for a 'sensible, pan-European' approach on a testing regime, and suggested that waiting too long to make decisions could mean Ireland 'very much misses the boat' in the summer.
