The Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC) monthly tourism dashboard was released yesterday, 11 August, 2022. Data for July indicates that the sector’s recovery continues to gather pace, but concerns remain about the pace of recovery beyond the summer season.
CEO of ITIC, Eoghan O’Mara Walsh, said that “July data shows that for the first time since pre-pandemic, Ireland had over 1 million monthly visitors, which is very encouraging, however supply constraints across accommodation, labour and car hire risk putting a handbrake on Irish tourism’s continued recovery”.
The ITIC forecasts a potentially weaker winter and a softer 2023, “with cost inflation at an unprecedented level”. Elaina Fitzgerald Kane, Chairperson of ITIC, commented that there is growing uncertainty within the industry: “A myriad of factors have boosted this summer. However, our members are worried about later this year and into next year with extraordinary inflationary pressures and capacity constraints including around the availability of people.”
O’Mara Walsh added that Ireland is an expensive country to operate a tourism and hospitality business, especially in light of the fact that labour was 32% and electricity 60% above the EU average, while Ireland has the 2nd highest excise tax across the EU.