Cork hotels welcome tourism growth

CORK hoteliers have welcomed the continuing growth in visitors to Ireland announced recently. The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show an 11% increase in trips to the country by overseas visitors between May-July of this year.

Darragh Brady, chair of the Cork Branch of the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) believes that the growth in visitors has delivered a major boost to Irish tourism, building on last year’s performance. He says total overseas visitors to Ireland are now expected to reach 7.8 million this year, up from 7.3 million in 2014.

‘There has been a real sense of optimism in Cork this summer season, as we have seen more visitors on the ground – all welcome news for hotels and guesthouses,’ said Mr Brady. ‘It is particularly encouraging to see strong recovery continuing from Britain, which is up over 12% for the first half of this year. The Cork tourism industry is also benefiting from visitor increases from North America (14.9%) and the rest of Europe (12.7%).Mr Brady stated that the tourism industry continues to provide economic growth and employment opportunities in Cork, thanks to a number of direct actions from the Government, including the zero rate travel tax and the 9% tourism VAT rate. ‘The 9% VAT rate in particular has been of major significance to the industry. This has brought our VAT rate into line with other European destinations and helped businesses compete fairly for visitors. This has led to increased visitor numbers and also allowed the sector to create much sought-after jobs in Cork and to reinvest through restoring and upgrading properties, which ensures quality and high standards are maintained.’

He pointed out that, in addition to the increase in overseas tourism, it is heartening to see that national tourism efforts to reignite the domestic tourism sector are having an effect with a healthy increase in home holidaymakers being recorded. He says that Cork hotels and guesthouses are witnessing increased business from Irish visitors as growing numbers are taking full advantage of the good value available.

Mr Brady cautions, however, that growth in hotel revenues in Cork are coming from a low base following the downturn. He says that many hotels and guesthouses continue to face problems, particularly in rural areas, but that sustainability for all hoteliers is the common goal. He concludes by stating that other external factors remain a concern for Irish hoteliers, including local authority rates which remain a major burden across the country.

CORK hoteliers have welcomed the continuing growth in visitors to Ireland announced recently. The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show an 11% increase in trips to the country by overseas visitors between May-July of this year.

Darragh Brady, chair of the Cork Branch of the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) believes that the growth in visitors has delivered a major boost to Irish tourism, building on last year’s performance. He says total overseas visitors to Ireland are now expected to reach 7.8 million this year, up from 7.3 million in 2014.

‘There has been a real sense of optimism in Cork this summer season, as we have seen more visitors on the ground – all welcome news for hotels and guesthouses,’ said Mr Brady. ‘It is particularly encouraging to see strong recovery continuing from Britain, which is up over 12% for the first half of this year. The Cork tourism industry is also benefiting from visitor increases from North America (14.9%) and the rest of Europe (12.7%).Mr Brady stated that the tourism industry continues to provide economic growth and employment opportunities in Cork, thanks to a number of direct actions from the Government, including the zero rate travel tax and the 9% tourism VAT rate. ‘The 9% VAT rate in particular has been of major significance to the industry. This has brought our VAT rate into line with other European destinations and helped businesses compete fairly for visitors. This has led to increased visitor numbers and also allowed the sector to create much sought-after jobs in Cork and to reinvest through restoring and upgrading properties, which ensures quality and high standards are maintained.’

He pointed out that, in addition to the increase in overseas tourism, it is heartening to see that national tourism efforts to reignite the domestic tourism sector are having an effect with a healthy increase in home holidaymakers being recorded. He says that Cork hotels and guesthouses are witnessing increased business from Irish visitors as growing numbers are taking full advantage of the good value available.

Mr Brady cautions, however, that growth in hotel revenues in Cork are coming from a low base following the downturn. He says that many hotels and guesthouses continue to face problems, particularly in rural areas, but that sustainability for all hoteliers is the common goal. He concludes by stating that other external factors remain a concern for Irish hoteliers, including local authority rates which remain a major burden across the country.

CORK hoteliers have welcomed the continuing growth in visitors to Ireland announced recently. The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show an 11% increase in trips to the country by overseas visitors between May-July of this year.

Darragh Brady, chair of the Cork Branch of the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) believes that the growth in visitors has delivered a major boost to Irish tourism, building on last year’s performance. He says total overseas visitors to Ireland are now expected to reach 7.8 million this year, up from 7.3 million in 2014.

‘There has been a real sense of optimism in Cork this summer season, as we have seen more visitors on the ground – all welcome news for hotels and guesthouses,’ said Mr Brady. ‘It is particularly encouraging to see strong recovery continuing from Britain, which is up over 12% for the first half of this year. The Cork tourism industry is also benefiting from visitor increases from North America (14.9%) and the rest of Europe (12.7%).Mr Brady stated that the tourism industry continues to provide economic growth and employment opportunities in Cork, thanks to a number of direct actions from the Government, including the zero rate travel tax and the 9% tourism VAT rate. ‘The 9% VAT rate in particular has been of major significance to the industry. This has brought our VAT rate into line with other European destinations and helped businesses compete fairly for visitors. This has led to increased visitor numbers and also allowed the sector to create much sought-after jobs in Cork and to reinvest through restoring and upgrading properties, which ensures quality and high standards are maintained.’

He pointed out that, in addition to the increase in overseas tourism, it is heartening to see that national tourism efforts to reignite the domestic tourism sector are having an effect with a healthy increase in home holidaymakers being recorded. He says that Cork hotels and guesthouses are witnessing increased business from Irish visitors as growing numbers are taking full advantage of the good value available.

Mr Brady cautions, however, that growth in hotel revenues in Cork are coming from a low base following the downturn. He says that many hotels and guesthouses continue to face problems, particularly in rural areas, but that sustainability for all hoteliers is the common goal. He concludes by stating that other external factors remain a concern for Irish hoteliers, including local authority rates which remain a major burden across the country.

CORK hoteliers have welcomed the continuing growth in visitors to Ireland announced recently. The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show an 11% increase in trips to the country by overseas visitors between May-July of this year.

Darragh Brady, chair of the Cork Branch of the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) believes that the growth in visitors has delivered a major boost to Irish tourism, building on last year’s performance. He says total overseas visitors to Ireland are now expected to reach 7.8 million this year, up from 7.3 million in 2014.

‘There has been a real sense of optimism in Cork this summer season, as we have seen more visitors on the ground – all welcome news for hotels and guesthouses,’ said Mr Brady. ‘It is particularly encouraging to see strong recovery continuing from Britain, which is up over 12% for the first half of this year. The Cork tourism industry is also benefiting from visitor increases from North America (14.9%) and the rest of Europe (12.7%).Mr Brady stated that the tourism industry continues to provide economic growth and employment opportunities in Cork, thanks to a number of direct actions from the Government, including the zero rate travel tax and the 9% tourism VAT rate. ‘The 9% VAT rate in particular has been of major significance to the industry. This has brought our VAT rate into line with other European destinations and helped businesses compete fairly for visitors. This has led to increased visitor numbers and also allowed the sector to create much sought-after jobs in Cork and to reinvest through restoring and upgrading properties, which ensures quality and high standards are maintained.’

He pointed out that, in addition to the increase in overseas tourism, it is heartening to see that national tourism efforts to reignite the domestic tourism sector are having an effect with a healthy increase in home holidaymakers being recorded. He says that Cork hotels and guesthouses are witnessing increased business from Irish visitors as growing numbers are taking full advantage of the good value available.

Mr Brady cautions, however, that growth in hotel revenues in Cork are coming from a low base following the downturn. He says that many hotels and guesthouses continue to face problems, particularly in rural areas, but that sustainability for all hoteliers is the common goal. He concludes by stating that other external factors remain a concern for Irish hoteliers, including local authority rates which remain a major burden across the country.

CORK hoteliers have welcomed the continuing growth in visitors to Ireland announced recently. The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show an 11% increase in trips to the country by overseas visitors between May-July of this year.

Darragh Brady, chair of the Cork Branch of the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) believes that the growth in visitors has delivered a major boost to Irish tourism, building on last year’s performance. He says total overseas visitors to Ireland are now expected to reach 7.8 million this year, up from 7.3 million in 2014.

‘There has been a real sense of optimism in Cork this summer season, as we have seen more visitors on the ground – all welcome news for hotels and guesthouses,’ said Mr Brady. ‘It is particularly encouraging to see strong recovery continuing from Britain, which is up over 12% for the first half of this year. The Cork tourism industry is also benefiting from visitor increases from North America (14.9%) and the rest of Europe (12.7%).Mr Brady stated that the tourism industry continues to provide economic growth and employment opportunities in Cork, thanks to a number of direct actions from the Government, including the zero rate travel tax and the 9% tourism VAT rate. ‘The 9% VAT rate in particular has been of major significance to the industry. This has brought our VAT rate into line with other European destinations and helped businesses compete fairly for visitors. This has led to increased visitor numbers and also allowed the sector to create much sought-after jobs in Cork and to reinvest through restoring and upgrading properties, which ensures quality and high standards are maintained.’

He pointed out that, in addition to the increase in overseas tourism, it is heartening to see that national tourism efforts to reignite the domestic tourism sector are having an effect with a healthy increase in home holidaymakers being recorded. He says that Cork hotels and guesthouses are witnessing increased business from Irish visitors as growing numbers are taking full advantage of the good value available.

Mr Brady cautions, however, that growth in hotel revenues in Cork are coming from a low base following the downturn. He says that many hotels and guesthouses continue to face problems, particularly in rural areas, but that sustainability for all hoteliers is the common goal. He concludes by stating that other external factors remain a concern for Irish hoteliers, including local authority rates which remain a major burden across the country.