Eoghan O'Mara Walsh: Irish tourism is exposed to Iran war

The Middle East conflict casts a shadow over Ireland's vital tourism industry, posing significant threats to visitor numbers, revenue, and economic stability.

The most immediate risk is the €450 million of tourism revenue that comes to Ireland annually from the Middle East or via the Middle East.

The Saint Patrick’s Day festivities traditionally act as the unofficial kick-off for the Irish tourism season. 

At the start of the month, tourism leaders were cautiously optimistic about the year ahead – strong air connectivity into Ireland, particularly across the Atlantic, allied to a stable global economy, suggested that visitor numbers would recover from the dip that was experienced last year. Now, however, with bombs raining down on the Middle East, industry chiefs are understandably more nervous about what lies ahead.