We should welcome tourists – not tax them

FIGURES for last May show that one million fewer passengers went through Irish airports in the first five months of the year as the country’s tourism decline increased following the introduction of the Government’s idiotic €10 travel tax on April 1.

If this traffic decline continues, as we expect it will, for the remainder of the year this €10 tourist tax will cause the loss of 2,000 jobs at Irish airports and a loss of more than €1.5 billion in visitor spend. The VAT receipts sacrificed as a result of this tourism collapse will top €300 million annually – more than double the €125m raised by this stupid, self-defeating tax. The Belgian and Dutch governments have now scrapped similar tourist taxes while the Greek and Spanish governments are reducing airport fees to zero in order to reverse falling tourist numbers. Therefore, isn’t it time the Government scrapped this tourist tax and make Ireland a competitive visitor destination once more?

The Government must welcome tourists – not tax them.