Tourism industry hit hard

AN urgent re-appraisal of Government policy for tourism-related industries in the wake of the significant downturn in US visitors to Ireland and the catastrophic impact which the poor summer is having on the home holiday industry was called for yesterday by the Small Firms Association.

SFA director Pat Delaney said the tourism industry and related leisure and entertainment industries are facing an economic crisis and the situation calls for immediate action: “Instead of waiting for these industries to simply collapse we must find new ways of maintaining the enormous investment and job creation which has taken place over the past six years.

"The impact of Foot and Mouth, September 11 and the economic downturn have seriously eroded confidence in the tourism sector. If hotels are mothballing bedrooms then many thousands of traditional seasonal jobs will disappear and it is only a matter of time before full-time jobs are lost.