Tourist industry shows no sign of recovery

TOURISM could be heading into a third year of under-performance since it peaked in 2000 when 6.3 million tourists arrived.

After 2001 slipped badly when the number of visitors fell 5%, the hope was that 2002 would see the lost ground recovered. Early indications are that the sector is still traumatised following the impact of foot and mouth and the shakeout from September 11. Current indications are that the industry will be hard-pushed to hold the 2001 line, while industry sources say it is still too early to be emphatic about the final outcome.

Next year is also set to present a further major challenge to the market.