High prices are here to stay, concede tourist chiefs

IRELAND’S rip-off image is unjustified, tourist chiefs insisted yesterday, but conceded high prices are here to stay.

As an Oireachtas sub-committee pledged to monitor tourism prices, industry leaders said value-for-money will be a key factor in its 2003 marketing campaigns.

Bord Fáilte's acting chief executive Niall Reddy urged commentators to be cautious on the high prices issue.