Swift action needed to increase tourist numbers

TOURISM businesses have warned they face disaster if they don’t see an increase in visitor numbers this year.

Unveiling a four-year recovery plan for the industry, a coalition of business interests said immediate action was needed to regain the 2.2 million visitors and €1.7 billion lost annually since 2007.

“Crisis is not too strong a word. We have lost a third of our business in three years,” said tourism and transport consultant Noel Sweeney who researched the plan. “If we have another bad year in 2011, it would be pretty disastrous. There are many businesses on the brink.”