Inflation is hurting vital industry

IN the wake of a series of severe setbacks, ranging from the impact of foot-and-mouth disease to the war in Iraq, the surprising up-turn in the fortunes of Irish tourism over the past year augurs well for 2004.

But Ireland’s regime of high inflation continues to undermine this vital industry.

Overall, with tourism revenue set to top €4 billion, the number of visitors estimated to have grown by 4%, and the volume of revenue estimated to have grown by 3.6% in 2003, the results are the best since the record year of 2000.