The Irish tourism industry still 6pc below pre-Covid levels, with subdued business activity and rising costs.
At their annual conference in Dublin the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC) called for government support in the upcoming Budget 2025, particularly for the restoration of the 9pc VAT rate, along with increased investment to reverse spending cuts from the previous budget.
Tourism providers indicate a challenging year, with UK arrivals down 12pc and nearly two-thirds of operators anticipating lower profitability, exacerbated by rising payroll costs due to labour policy changes.
Concerns are growing regarding the implications of a passenger cap at Dublin Airport, as airline slot requests for next year are reportedly being declined, leading to uncertainty in the industry.
The Irish Travel Industry Confederation conference in Dublin attracted 300 leading tourism professionals to the Dublin Royal convention centre to hear the major issues of concern to the industry being discussed.
