The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
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 …
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