Hotels lose business despite rising tourist numbers

THE number of foreign tourists visiting these shores is marginally up on last year but hotels and guesthouses are suffering a major downturn in business, mostly due to high prices.

A Bord Fáilte survey of almost 800 tourism establishments shows a downturn in all categories of accommodation during 2002, with guesthouses and B&Bs worst hit.

Bord Fáilte is concerned that businesses may be pricing themselves out of the market. According to its Tourism Barometer, a regular study of the industry, high prices are the single largest contributory factor in the slowdown in holiday demand for the hotel, guesthouse and B&B sectors.