Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 February 2023
127. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she and her Department continue to monitor the tourism sector, with a view to ensuring customers do not get ripped off; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9201/23]
View answer128. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which hotel bed spaces continue to remain sufficiently available throughout Dublin city and greater areas, with a view to ensuring tourists and those seeking hotel accommodation are not pressured into paying exorbitant prices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9202/23]
View answer130. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she and her Department have monitored the number of hotels that have closed down permanently or otherwise in the Dublin area over the past three years; if sufficient steps are being taken to ensure hotel accommodation is not lost to the market by virtue of being replaced by other investment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9204/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 127, 128 and 130 together.
While we head into 2023 in a strong position, following last year’s rebound in international visitors, I am conscious that there are immediate challenges facing our tourism industry. These challenges include accommodation capacity, energy costs and labour shortages and I and my officials continue to closely monitor these issues in conjunction with Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland. Notwithstanding the challenges, we must continue to plan for further recovery in the sector and building for a sustainable future.
Many economic factors such as the current humanitarian crisis caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and significant cost pressures, are affecting tourism businesses.
The return of a sustainable and vibrant tourism sector is important and I stress that it is important that businesses maintain a long term perspective on competitiveness and value for money. Fáilte Ireland has written to all registered providers of tourism accommodation to advise that they will have a renewed focus on compliance with their scale of charges in 2023. The agency has requested each individual business to consider the wider implication of its price setting models and has reminded them of the importance of maintaining Ireland's reputation as a good-value destination.
It will be important that Dublin, as the capital city, can cater for all types of visitors with quality and value choices to suit different budgets. Fáilte Ireland continues to monitor closely accommodation capacity in Dublin, both in terms of pipeline and supply, to ensure capacity meets the requirements for tourism demand.
