Rising costs for tourism sector will find a way into the price of a bedroom, a meal, or a pint

The reality is that Ireland is an expensive country in which to run a tourism and hospitality business

Tourism minister Peter Burke and European Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas at the Tourism Ministers Summit in Mullingar last week. Picture: Julien Behal

Now that the tourism season is over, there is much commentary about what sort of a year it has been for Ireland’s largest indigenous industry and biggest regional employer. The most common feedback from tourism businesses is one of relief. 

Relief that visitor numbers remained stable, relief that the key North American market performed strongly, relief that the worst fears of March when the Iran war started failed to materialise. It certainly hasn’t been a stellar year, with cost of business pressures continuing to squeeze profit margins, but at least the Middle East conflict and resultant energy shock didn’t totally derail the sector.