Eoghan O'Mara Walsh: Tourism sector is left underwhelmed by Budget 2024

ITIC chief says tourism faces particular challenges including the curb on flights into Dublin Airport, the 13.5% Vat rate, and the number of hotel beds hoovered up for humanitarian purposes

'The majority of the 40,600 businesses within tourism and hospitality are still reeling from the Government’s decision to hike the Vat rate last month.' File picture: Kieran Clancy

Like every sector, Ireland’s tourism industry paid close attention yesterday to the words of Michael McGrath and Paschal Donohoe.

The latest CSO data shows that Irish tourism is still some way off full recovery. Airport traffic is inflated by Irish people travelling abroad, and hotel occupancy is inflated by Government contracts for humanitarian purposes — the actual number of tourists in the country is well shy of where it needs to be.