The war in Ukraine, combined with the high number of international protection applicants, has resulted in the largest humanitarian effort in the State's history.
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) is engaged across Government concerning temporary accommodation for those in need of shelter and is responsible for all contracted accommodation used to house Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTP) and other International Protection (IP) applicants.
In June 2023, Fáilte Ireland carried out a detailed analysis of data provided by DCEDIY concerning the bed stock under contract to accommodate BOTPs and IPs and established that 13% of registered tourism stock nationally, or just under 30,000 beds, was under contract to DCEDIY, of which 25,059 were hotel beds. I understand that an additional quantum of tourism-type accommodation that is not registered with Fáilte Ireland is also contracted to DCEDIY.
At a meeting of the Hospitality and Tourism Forum in June I invited all stakeholders to provide evidence on the impacts of stock displacement within the tourism sector to enable me to make a considered evaluation of the matter. I also asked my officials and Fáilte Ireland to continue to engage with tourism interests and operators on the ground around the country to better understand the full impacts of stock displacement within the sector, including economic activity and employment.
Recently, Fáilte Ireland undertook further research to look at the impact of stock displacement on tourist attraction and activity providers. The overall findings of the survey are that most attractions, experiences and activity providers experienced a drop in business volume compared to 2019 across all markets. The research indicates that competition from overseas destinations is an issue for businesses, especially when trying to attract Irish holiday makers who are able to travel abroad again. The reduced availability of accommodation is also seen as a contributor to the decline, especially in the overseas market. Other key contributors cited included less disposable income.
I will be chairing a meeting of the Hospitality and Tourism Forum on 27 September which will provide a further opportunity for industry representatives to provide evidence on the impacts of stock displacement within the tourism sector and I will also be engaging in meetings with Government colleagues in the coming weeks to discuss Budget 2024, where I will also be raising industry concerns on this and other matters.
