- BDO Ireland research has found 76pc believe tourism benefits their local region or town
- 44pc say the biggest benefit of tourism is its economic contribution
- 50pc of Irish people want to see a larger tourism industry
- 67pc believe Ireland offers a unique or authentic experience
- Price and cost concerns identified as the main challenges facing the sector
BDO Ireland in partnership with Amárach Research has published research finding the Irish public regards tourism as a key economic driver. Some 76pc believe tourism brings benefits to their region or town and 44pc identify tourism’s economic benefits as the sector’s main contribution. Half of respondents want to see a larger tourism industry in Ireland.
The research found 67pc believe Ireland offers a unique or authentic experience that cannot be found elsewhere. More than half believe Ireland continues to offer visitors a céad míle fáilte. Some 44pc of respondents identify tourism’s economic benefits as the sector’s main contribution, with 15pc highlighting pride in local attractions and 13pc citing job creation.
Price and cost concerns emerged as the main challenges facing the sector. When asked if they could change one thing about Irish tourism, 29pc said lower prices. The findings suggest that while the public recognises tourism’s contribution, concerns around value for money could undermine the sector’s ability to realise its full potential.
Austin Hickey shared “The message from the Irish public is that people recognise tourism as an important contributor to our economy and to communities right across the country, and there is a strong appetite to see the sector grow. The 44pc who identify economic benefits as tourism’s greatest contribution underlines the importance of the sector not just to tourism businesses themselves, but to the wider Irish economy and to towns and regions across the country.”
