Killarney Chamber reports 'dramatic reduction in footfall' with much accommodation snapped up for refugees

Chamber says tourist town has been hit by a 'perfect storm'

Killarney Chamber is campaigning to return to the 9 per cent VAT rate and wants training and other supports for business.

There can be ‘no argument’ about the impact of the considerable numbers of refugees and asylum seekers on business in Killarney, the Killarney Chamber of Commerce and Tourism has said in a statement which has been issued amid alarm about business closures in the tourist town.

Along with the VAT increase to 13.5 per cent, the downturn in footfall and tourist spend because of the government contracts was the ‘last straw’, it said..