The amount spent by overseas tourists fell in 2019 for the first time in eight years

The Government should quickly tap its Brexit contingency fund to do more to promote the island abroad, as the amount spent by overseas tourists fell in 2019 for the first time in eight years, the head of the largest tourism business group has said.

Irish Tourism Industry Confederation chief executive Eoghan O’Mara Walsh said it was frustrating that government agency Tourism Ireland spent less on marketing Ireland at a time when the Vat hospitality tax rate was raised.