Tourism industry - Government has shown scant regard
The tourist industry is wailing about its problems, calling for Government help, which is undoubtedly needed, but everyone should recognise that, by overpricing itself, the industry has wrung the neck of the goose that laid the golden eggs.
The 12% decline in the number of overseas visitors last year was compounded by a reduction of 5% in domestic trips, which led to a further revenue loss of 9%. Those figures would suggest that domestic holiday-makers actually spend more money. Therein lays part of the problem. Foreign tourists were attracted to this country with holiday packages that contained price offers that were generally not available to domestic holiday-makers. Many Irish people found it much cheaper to vacation on the Iberian Peninsula, North Africa, the Canaries, or even as far away as Turkey.
