Travel tax is 'unwise'

The Irish Tourist Industry Confederation (ITIC) has slammed the travel tax introduced by the minister for finance Brian Lenihan in today's Budget.

Eamonn McKeon, Chief Executive of ITIC, said: "The industry is naturally disappointed at the imposition of the €10 departure tax. It would be regrettable even in normal times, but its imposition at a time when the aviation and travel industries are in the most precarious position in living memory is unfortunate and unwise."

"It is another blow against Ireland's competitiveness, and for the amount of money raised it could and should have been avoided.

"Tourism is a resilient sector which has weathered many previous economic and political upheavals, but the current perfect storm will test to the full the industry's capacity to survive with limited damage through this uncertain period."