IN an open letter to local election candidates in the county, Dermot Kelly, the Shannon representative of the Irish Hotels Federation, appealed for support for the tourism sector.
“A flourishing tourism and hospitality industry is vital for Ireland’s prosperity and economic well-being, both nationally and at a local level.
“Our industry plays an essential role in delivering balanced regional growth and makes a major economic contribution to Clare. As the country’s largest indigenous employer, tourism enterprises support over 270,000 livelihoods in every town and county, including some 12,700 in Clare,” he said.
“While we have seen a welcome recovery in recent years, tourism and hospitality businesses are now facing a significant number of pressing challenges with implications for the longer-term sustainable development of our industry. These include the exceptionally high cost of doing business, pressures on consumer finances, skills shortages and an uncertain outlook for key tourism markets.
“Local Authorities have an essential role to play in supporting our local tourism economy by helping to ensure the right conditions are in place to sustain further recovery. It is therefore of the utmost importance that elected Councillors do everything in their power to make sure that tourism is at the top of the agenda while working closely with local tourism stakeholders to support growth and sustain local employment,” he added.
Mr Kelly asked for support for community-based tourism. “Significant untapped potential exists to support tourism initiatives driven by local community groups, including events that will deepen links with the diaspora. Local authorities have an important role to play by working more closely with community organisations to help create compelling reasons to visit, including during the off-peak tourism season.”
He asked that Shannon Airport be prioritised. “We ask you to do everything in your power to ensure the development of Shannon Airport is prioritised as a key policy focus.
“A stronger political focus is required to support greater air access for the region, increase tourism and business visitor numbers and ensure long-term sustainable growth for the airport.”
He also asked that if elected they lobby for a reduction in VAT on tourism business.
“Given the importance of tourism to our local economy here in Clare, I would also ask for your support of tourism-friendly policies at a national level, including in relation to the cost of doing business.
“This is having enormous implications for tourism and hospitality businesses at a time when they are grappling with the effects of last September’s VAT increase, which has eroded competitiveness. I would therefore urge your support for a review of this decision by Government and, at a minimum, a reduction in the rate of VAT to 9% for food-related services, where margins are under tremendous pressure.”
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked with a number of other publications in Limerick, Cork and Galway. His first book will be published in December 2024.