Lack of investment in Irish tourism ‘hurting hotel sector’

The long-term sustainability of the tourism sector is being compromised by a lack of State investment, the hotels federation annual conference has heard.

Cutbacks have taken €25m from the coffers of the State’s tourism bodies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, since 2012 — a development that is putting long-term growth at risk.

Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) president Stephen McNally told more than 300 assembled delegates at the annual conference in the Slieve Russell Hotel in Co Cavan that the time has come to reverse the cuts made during the recession.