Hoteliers from across the country recently met with TDs and Senators to discuss the key challenges facing Irish tourism and the measures required to ensure the successful long-term development of Ireland’s largest indigenous industry, supporting over 270,000 livelihoods – including 27,000 in Cork.
A key concern for hotels and guesthouses across Cork in the run up to Budget 2027 is the exceptionally high operating costs that tourism and hospitality businesses are grappling with, putting Ireland’s competitiveness as a tourism destination at risk. This is being driven to a large extent by successive public policies which have significantly increased operating costs.
“Tourism and hospitality businesses are struggling to deal with unsustainable operating costs that are putting enormous pressure on margins,” said Eoghan Murphy, chair of the Cork Branch of the Irish Hotels Federation.
“This is a serious challenge for our sector, including the local tourism economy here in Cork. It is essential that Budget 2027 delivers targeted measures as part of efforts to offset some of these Government-controlled costs and enhance the cost competitiveness and viability of our sector,” he added.
Outlining the key policy priorities for the industry, Mr Murphy stressed the importance of decisive action in the upcoming Budget.
Key policy priorities for Budget 2027 include a meaningful reduction in Employers’ PRSI for labour-intensive hospitality businesses, measures to tackle excessive business costs, including energy network charges, support for the development of hotel staff accommodation, enhanced resources for hotel sustainability initiatives, Increased funding for Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland to deliver tourism growth, Additional investment in training and skills, leveraging untapped surpluses in the National Training Fund, and measures to support increased hotel capacity.
Having these measures in place would go a long way towards ensuring the long-term success of Ireland’s tourism and hospitality industry, including local businesses throughout Cork.
As Ireland’s largest indigenous employer, a vibrant and thriving tourism and hospitality industry is vital for the country’s economic well-being.
270,000 livelihoods are supported by Irish tourism and hospitality, with 27,000 tourism jobs throughout Cork, while 69,000 people directly employed by Irish hotels and guesthouses. Some 70% of tourism and hospitality jobs are outside of Dublin.
€10bn in revenue is generated by tourism annually for the economy, and over €2.9bn in taxes are generated annually for the State by tourism-related activity.
