The head of Clare’s largest tourism network says that tourism businesses in North Clare are facing closure in the months ahead as a result of a perfect storm of factors including increasing rates, VAT and payroll, as well as a lack of tourist accommodation.
Chair of the Burren Ecotourism Network, George Quinn, has written to Taoiseach Simon Harris (FG) requesting urgent compensation be paid to businesses which he says are struggling as a result of a series of Government decision.
Speaking at the AGM of the Burren Ecotourism Network, Mr Quinn said that the lights are going out on businesses all along the Wild Atlantic Way, with North Clare particularly badly hit. He highlighted the lack of available tourism accommodation as a key factor, with high profile tourist accommodation in Lisdoonvarna, Ballyvaughan and Kinvara now being used to house refugees from the war in Ukraine.
Mr Quinn, who is the landlord of L’arco Restaurant in Ballyvaughan, says he is not even offering the premises to the market for rent this year because there is no longer enough footfall because of the lack of local accommodation.
“It’s a combination of a number of different things that are killing the tourism industry and Ballyvaughan and its hinterland is particularly hit. Kinvara is closed down for the past two years, Lisdoonvarna is closed out, where do our visitors stay?” he said.
“I haven’t gone out to the market looking for another tenant [for L’arco]. What would I say to a perspective tenant, there is no discernible market there at the moment.
“I’m an optimist by nature, but I have to be realistic. It’s quite devastating at the moment, there is no brightness on the horizon.
“There are 400 international protection applicants in Ballyvaughan at the moment, in a town with a population of 190 people.
“We have nothing against these people, these people are living in a desperate situation. But they [the Government] are addressing one critical issue by creating another critical issue.
“They are killing off businesses. They are celebrating 10 years of the Wild Atlantic Way, but right now, right along the Wild Atlantic Way, the lights are going out. The bed nights are gone and no-one is jumping up and down about it. It is very frustrating.”
Mr Quinn says the Government must first recognise the severity of the issues facing businesses and then put in place a targeted package of compensation.
“In the past they [the Government] have compensated communities in recognition of the impact on them, but they need to recognise the impact on businesses. It’s tangible, who is going to pay my mortgage now?” he said.
“They should be able to calculate the net loss to a business over recent years. We can take turnover from a few years ago, whatever measure is decided upon to measure that impact that this has had. This downturn is the result of Government decisions.
“I can’t reconcile that the Government are raising taxes which are hurting us and what are they doing with it, they are squandering it.
“The Government needs to recognise the damage that is being done to businesses. To help the businesses get over this hurdle, they can calculate how much revenue has been lost and compensate them.”
The Burren Ecotourism Network represent 60 tourism related businesses in the North Clare area. Mr Quinn is calling on all members to stick together and help each other to get through the current crisis.
“The cohesion of the Burren Ecotourism Network was beneficial during the Covid pandemic, and it will again be crucial for all our members of the network to continue working together to maximise and share what tourism business opportunities that do exist,” he said.
Andrew Hamilton is a journalist, investigative reporter and blogger who has been working in the media in Ireland for the past 20 years. His areas of special interest include the environment, mental health and politics.