Drastic action needed in tourism industry

NORTH Clare Fine Gael Councillor Martin Conway has called for urgent Government action and intervention to save the Irish tourism industry.

Many tourist operators are facing a very uncertain future following what has proven to be a poor season overall. “With the downturn in the economy together with the poor weather and the myriad of other industry difficulties, it is now high time that there was a bailout for this most important industry,” Councillor Conway claimed.
“I have spoken over the last few days to hoteliers, B&B operators, self-catering accommodation providers along with other tourism service providers who have all spoken of a shrinking incomes and indeed numbers. Many of them now want to see something positive and focused coming from Government as opposed to lip service. This week we have seen another bailout for Anglo Irish Bank yet the industry which is most important to many parts of this country and indeed one which many feel is our only potential growth industry is still waiting for the drastic action needed,” he said.
“What was a thriving sector two or three years ago has now fallen into crisis. The number of overseas visitors to Ireland plummeted in 2009 and the downward trend has continued in 2010. The tourist industry is a vital indigenous industry, provides valuable employment across all parts of this county and this country and should be properly supported through our economic difficulties. Our tourism sector is the one natural resource which we have that could assist in jump starting our economic recovery,” he continued.
According to Councillor Conway, the huge losses in tourist numbers need to be stemmed, considering the fall-off of 468,800 visitors to date this year, an overall decline of 23.3%.
“The collapse in the tourist industry is reflected in tourism revenue for 2009 which fell by €1.1bn to €5.2bn, its lowest level since 2004. Overseas visitor numbers fell by close to one million in 2009 compared to 2008. Most worryingly, Ireland’s largest tourism market, the United Kingdom, declined by 16%,” Councillor Conway stated.
“Access to Ireland has become worryingly restricted with the ongoing removal of routes and restrictions in airline capacity at both Shannon and Dublin airports. Like many other sectors, tourism businesses are facing a serious credit flow crisis and huge debt problems as a result of the economic downturn,” he added.
While most businesses agree that this summer was worse than last year’s, some have been hit harder then others.   “You are looking at a drop from 5% in some cases and up to 20% with others. Due to the cut-throat competition in the hotel industry the B&B sector simply cannot compete,” he noted.
He said the Government should set up a taskforce, chaired by a person with an international reputation, to examine the difficulties in the industry.
Councillor Conway said he believed any such taskforce should examine the €10 travel tax, the over-supply of hotel bedrooms, connectivity issues and development of Shannon Airport. It should also, the Ennistymon man argued, look at the duplication of government agencies in the industry.