Cash-strapped Irish staying at home

THIS year could be worse than 2011 for Clare hotels and guesthouses, according to a prominent hotelier, as low consumer confidence keeps the “strapped” Irish at home.

Michael Vaughan, of Vaughan Lodge Hotel, Lahinch, and the president of the Irish Hotels Federation, said the problem is felt throughout the West of Ireland.

“There are widespread concerns up and down the coast and particularly in the outlying areas. Kilkee, Lahinch, Ballyvaughan, Lisdoonvarna and even East Clare are experiencing it. Tourist numbers are not reaching the usual levels.

“Normally the tourist numbers in the summer are made up of Irish holidaymakers having a typical Irish holiday. Those people are now so strapped and lacking in consumer confidence they are simply not spending money. While we, in the tourism business, all thought 2011 would be the watershed in terms of how low the market could dip, it now looks like we will see it drop more in 2012 before we rise up again,” Mr Vaughan told The Clare Champion.

According to the well-known businessman, the problem is not down to price. “I don’t think it is a question of not offering value anymore. There is plenty of value in Clare and there is a good collaboration between accommodation providers and entertainment providers, so there are good packages available. I have to commend Clare Tourism Forum, which has produced great programmes in recent years,” he said.

“70% of the business nationally comes from the domestic market. So really it is this time of the year in particular that we depend on that. July and August are home holiday market times. While it is great to have things like the Volvo Ocean Race to gather people together in one particular area at a particular time, there is a lot of work to be done to fill the rooms in other places and all year round,” he claimed.
It is not all bad, though, according to Mr Vaughan.

“There are counter indicators there because, in general terms, the numbers coming into the country is starting to rise again. I was speaking to the chief executive of CIE tours this week and he said they will bank one of their best years yet out of North American coach tours. That area is holding up well,” he concluded.