€5m Tourism Investment Ahead Of Brexit

Fáilte Ireland is set to invest an additional €5 million in the tourism sector, as part of its efforts to protect the industry ahead of Brexit.

It comes as new figures published by the National Tourism Development Authority of Ireland highlight Brexit as the number one concern among business owners, especially in the northern counties.

The Fáilte Ireland Tourism Industry Barometer shows that 69% of tourism firms cite Brexit as their top concern, while 90% in the restaurant sector share that worry.

The tourism body warned that the chaos inflicted by a hard Brexit could cost the industry over €380m.

"Fáilte Ireland is working intensively with businesses to help them prepare for Brexit," said Chief Executive, Paul Kelly.

"It remains a key concern for every facet of the tourism sector as our latest barometer survey shows. This is particularly true for the restaurant sector nationwide, as well as accommodation providers in northern counties, who report that their visitor numbers from the UK are down over the past year.

"The prospect of a hard Brexit, or a potential no-deal scenario, leaves us with significant uncertainty relating to the wider implications it could have on tourism, particularly on the performance of our nearest and biggest overseas market.

"As we await the final outcome of Brexit, and with the situation changing on a daily basis, it is still difficult to quantify the range and scope of impacts that Brexit will have. Our key message to tourism businesses is 'prepare and diversify'."

Over 3.4m British Tourists holiday in Ireland every year, on average, and spend around €1.6bn while there.



(JG/CM)