Tourism industry 'bewildered' by Vat extension timetable

The 9% rate was seen by tourism leaders as a proven success — but on September 1, 2022, Ireland will return to having one of the highest tourism Vat rates across Europe, writes Eoghan O’Mara Walsh of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation.

Tourism bosses say they are "bewildered" over why the 9% Vat rate for hospitality businesses has only been extended to the end of next August.

With an industry such as tourism and hospitality still in survival mode, Budget 2022 was always going to be critical.

With the economy unmercifully walloped by the pandemic over the last 18 months, would the Government maintain supports and introduce pro-tourism policies that would help the sector to the path of stability and onwards to recovery?