There are further indicators today that the local tourism industry could be facing another difficult year in 2024.
It’s being claimed that accommodation and airport capacity constraints are stopping the tourism industry here from reaching its full potential.
The Irish Tourism Industry Confederation says overseas visitors spent five point three billion euro here in 2023.
It’s predicted that next year will be another challenging one for tourism with 20% of hotel and guest house beds being contracted to Government to house asylum seekers and refugees.
It’s widely that that the north west region depends disproportionally on the tourism and hospitality to support the local economy.
It’s also accepted that the lack of tourism beds is having a negative impact on the potential of the region to support businesses that rely mainly o sector such as visitor centres.
The Chief Executive of the ITIC, Eoghan O’Meara Walsh says the sector could grow even quicker if it wasn’t for accommodation and airport capacity constraints.
