Tourism needs 5% growth for survival

TOURISM needs to grow by more than 5% over the coming year if businesses are to survive the economic crisis, industry chiefs have warned.

While overseas visitor numbers were up 7% this year — the first increase in four years — they are still way below the record years of the mid-2000s.

The Irish Tourist Industry Confederation (ITIC) said the continued viability of many businesses demanded that the growth achieved this year continue throughout 2012.