Hoteliers hoping US tourists will help trade

Tourism interests in the South-West are hoping an expected influx of American visitors from the end of May will compensate for a slow start to 2013.

Michael Rosney, spokesman for the Kerry branch of the Irish Hotels’ Federation, yesterday said the season so far was “very quiet” and down, in numbers, on previous years.

He said the general economic situation and additional taxes were impacting on the domestic market. “Money that people will be paying out for the property tax, for example, could well be the few hundred euro they might otherwise spend on a weekend away.

“These taxes might be good for government coffers, but they certainly don’t help the economy.”

However, he was confident additional flights into the country from the US would result in increased numbers of tourists from late May onwards.

Mr Rosney, of Killeen House Hotel, Killarney, also appealed to Killarney Golf Club and Siptu to resolve industrial relations difficulties which could lead to a strike at the club on May 7.

Conor Hennigan of the Malton Hotel in Killarney also said the US market looked strong this season.