Skellig Michael: Tourism chiefs plead with OPW to issue temporary boat permits

Unesco World Heritage site may not reopen until June — 'a complete disaster' which risks 'lasting damage to businesses and Ireland’s reputation as a world-class tourism destination'

Skellig Michael attracts 15,000 visitors a year, with many multiples of that number visiting villages and beaches on the south Kerry coast including here at St Finian's Bay, Ballinskelligs. Tourism chiefs say the failure to reopen this year is damaging tourism across South Kerry. File picture: Dan Linehan

Tourism chiefs in Kerry have issued an urgent plea to the Office of Public Works to issue temporary permits to boat operators to resolve the bitter stand-off threatening to destroy the entire visitor season to Skellig Michael.

The Unesco world heritage site did not open to tourists for the scheduled start of the visitor season this weekend due to a legal dispute over the awarding of landing permits.