Joe Dolan says €300m tourism spend ‘needed’

Incoming IHF president, Joe Dolan, has warned that much of the sector’s recovery is based on external factors over which it has no control and called for greater tourism investment to ensure sustainable growth throughout the industry.

Mr Dolan, managing director of the Bush Hotel in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, recommended the introduction of a €300m capital budget for tourism initiatives — part of which should be used to stimulate regional growth.

“The recovery is non-uniform; it’s non-uniform where it’s happening and the rate at which it’s happening but there is recovery nonetheless.