Tourism funding ‘needed now more than ever’

The Government now has to “step up to the plate” to rescue tourism from the impact of Brexit in the wake of the UK election because it is “much too important to the regional economy to be taken for granted”, according to a national industry body.

Chief executive of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC), Eoghan O’Mara Walsh said a €12m stimulus package for the industry was needed now more than ever as sterling fell following the UK election.

The number of visitors from the UK, which is Ireland’s biggest tourism market, has dropped significantly since the Brexit vote in June last year and with the pound falling again following the shock election result, it means less spending money for visitors if they chose to visit the Republic.