Eoghan O’Mara Walsh of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation and Catherine Flanagan of AVEA have highlighted the importance of tourism in the context of the upcoming Irish general election, highlighting how political party manifestos address issues related to the tourism sector, including proposed changes to the VAT rate for the hospitality industry.
Key election issues identified by ITIC include also include the critical need to lift the passenger cap at Dublin Airport to encourage tourism growth and the call for increased support for regional airports like Cork and Shannon to enhance connectivity and competitiveness in the tourism market.
The recent advocacy efforts by the tourism sector have influenced political proposals, such as the introduction of an 11pc VAT rate for the food services sector, which stakeholders view as a positive step toward a more favourable tax environment.
