Business
Outlook positive for tourism sector
The summer was a particularly successful season for most Irish tourism businesses, boosted in part by return visitors and favourable exchange rates, according to the findings in the latest Fáilte Ireland Tourism Barometer.
The Barometer is a survey of tourism businesses which seeks to gauge tourism performance for the year to date and prospects for the year ahead.
Paid serviced accommodation providers recorded an excellent year so far, with a large proportion (78%) of respondents to the survey reporting growth.
Hotels lead the way, with around four in five (79%) reporting an increase in business, followed by 69% of guesthouses. Even the B&B sector, which has struggled in recent years, is showing very good signs of improvement, with 70% of operators saying that their business is up so far this year.
Accommodation providers were not the only ones who enjoyed a buoyant summer and the majority (79%) of tourist attractions have also seen a boost in the number of visitors welcomed through their doors so far this year – with the overseas markets even stronger – 85% registered growth in visitors from across the waters.
Similarly, there was a fair wind for two thirds (67%) of golf clubs this year who reported an increase in their overall visitor numbers.
Reflecting growing consumer confidence, the Irish golf market contributed to growth with 58% of courses enjoying an increase in domestic visitors.
Restaurants also enjoyed a busy summer with 58% reporting business to be up overall. Overseas markets have really boosted trade for restaurants with 72% reporting more business from overseas tourists so far in 2015.
Repeat visitors have been driving business in 2015 and as a result this factor maintains its place as the most frequently mentioned (69%) positive factor this year.
Welcoming returning business is particularly cited by large proportions of golf clubs (88%), caravan and camping operators (83%) and hotels (78%).
Furthermore, most sectors also claim to be benefiting from the strength of the dollar and sterling against the euro, which has helped to drive visitor volumes from North America and Great Britain.
“Tourism appears now to be firing on all pistons with every sector of the industry now enjoying greater growth,” said Fáilte Ireland CEO Shaun Quinn.
“We have been particularly blessed this year by favourable currency rates but these aren’t steadfast and it will be important for tourism businesses to ensure they are not stranded if that tide goes out.
“The visitor experience of value for money, especially given that repeat visitors are an important part of our customer base, will be crucial to providing for tourism growth which is ever-green rather than cyclical,” he added.
Looking ahead, the outlook for the future amongst accommodation providers has been strengthened by this year’s performance with a belief that tourism will continue to grow year on year but tempered by an acknowledgement that competitiveness must be maintained.
The majority of paid serviced accommodation providers (68%) are expecting business to be up during the rest of the year (compared to the same period in 2014), with hoteliers being particularly optimistic (73%).
The new President of Local Ireland, the association representing local news publishers around the country, is Head of Irish Times Regionals Dan Linehan.
Mr Linehan takes over the presidency from Declan McGuire of the Connacht Tribune. His appointment was confirmed at the recent Annual General Meeting of Local Ireland at Bloomfield House Hotel near Mullingar, Westmeath.
Mr Linehan, who has served as Vice President of the organisation for the last two years, said: “The coming years are a very important time for local publishers with many important issues to be addressed, including the implementation of the Future of Media Commission recommendations, defamation reform, the role and support for local publishers in public service reporting and helping publishers develop commercial digital offerings.”
Speaking at the AGM, Mr McGuire acknowledged the work done by the Executive in the past two years under the direction of Executive Director, Bob Hughes, on several projects related to the publishing industry but most especially the successful conclusion of the long-running campaign for the abolition of VAT on newspapers.
He also wished Mr Linehan the very best in his new role as President of the association for the next two years.
Mr Hughes thanked Mr McGuire for his leadership and support during his term of office and said he looked forward to working with Mr Linehan on the key policy priorities for the association, including Government supports, Government advertising, fair remuneration for content from the tech platforms and the reform of the legislation for defamation.
Local Ireland members also elected Seán Mahon, Managing Director of the Southern Star, as Vice President for the next two years.
The shortage of affordable housing is the single biggest impediment in attracting and retaining workers in the West, according to business group Ibec.
At a ‘Regional Insights Series’ meeting in the Galmont Hotel in Galway last week, employers were told that capacity constraints and labour supply are the key challenges facing business growth in the region.
Ibec Head of Regional Policy Helen Leahy said: “There must be greater focus by government on enhancing quality of life issues such as housing and infrastructure which are driving labour shortages in the region.
“Ibec’s vision for the West is to realise its potential to become a globally competitive location. An inadequate supply of affordable housing is now the single largest impediment to attracting and retaining talented workers, without whom business investment and expansions are not possible.
“Labour shortages are a real concern for businesses in the region. People decide where to live and work based on quality of life and access to high quality services and amenities. Industry tends to follow talent, and in this regard, the region needs to have all the building blocks in place as the attraction and retention of world-class talent becomes increasingly competitive on a global level,” said Ms Leahy.
Amongst Ibec’s priorities for the West are:
- Addressing housing and infrastructure challenges
- Transitioning towards a new growth model with Net Zero energy powered by Atlantic offshore wind resources
- Adapting businesses to the new economic realities
- Enhancing capacity and skillsets to achieve sustainable development objectives
- Investment in people and skills
- Creating competitive advantage through digitalisation
- Innovation as a key driver of productivity growth
One in five Galway businesses want to go fully cashless, as the move towards card payments and tapping continues unabated post-Covid.
In all, 22% of Galway businesses would like to be fully cashless, according to a survey carried out by BOI Payment Acceptance (BOIPA), a provider of payment technology solutions, which asked Irish businesses about the current payment landscape as well as business confidence and concerns.
Over one-third (36%) of Galway businesses were unaware there is no contactless limit on mobile wallets – just below the national average – while 54% believe the increase in card over cash transactions has helped them run their business.
Six out of ten Galway businesses expect to grow this year despite the cost-of-living crisis and running costs dominating as key concerns; 62% believe their business will grow over the next twelve months despite global economic uncertainty.
Unsurprisingly cost-of-living increases and running costs were the main concerns the majority of businesses had.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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