Travel Groups Lash Out at Irish Government on Poor Tourism Performance

The main lobbying group representing the tourism sector has blamed the Government of not “matching the industry’s ambitions” and requested the State to provide more support to the sector.

The Irish Tourism Industry Confederation or ITIC, the umbrella group of the industry cautioned that “sustaining success in the Irish tourism sector in 2019 will be a challenge” as a result of the risks from Brexit, Vat rate hikes and higher costs.

For Irish tourism, 2018 was a year with record success, with €6.9 billion earned from overseas tourism, as the sector currently employs around 270,000 people.

Nevertheless, Maurice Pratt, ITIC’s chairman and a former C&C and Quinnsworth executive, stated that its growth would be maintained “only if the right strategies and investment policies are pursued”.

“The Government must match the industry’s ambitions for the sector. Funding for the sector has only now barely returned to 2008 levels and it is vital that competitiveness is supported,” he said.

“Tourism is the only sector that can provide proper long-term regional balance and deliver jobs and economic growth to all parts of the country.”

“The decision by the Government to increase tourism VAT rate by 50 percent on January 1st imposes a €466 million tax on the sector next year. This is at the worst possible time with Brexit looming and tourism’s competitiveness diminished and ITIC repeats its call for this VAT hike to be deferred,” said the confederation’s chief executive, Eoghan O’Mara Walsh.