Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 February 2024
220. 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 that customers get the best value for money; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7321/24]
View answerIt is vital that the tourism sector keeps the value for money proposition to the fore across all its segments to ensure that our high quality reputation is maintained and that new and repeat visitors continue to come to Ireland. While Ireland is not a low-cost destination, the potential long term impacts need to be carefully considered by all tourism businesses in setting their prices. This is something which I discuss with the sector, including most recently at an in person meeting of the Hospitality and Tourism Forum, on 24 January 2024. I co-chair this forum with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
It is recognised that businesses continue to face significant cost pressures due to inflation and other economic factors. Rising costs however are not unique to the tourism industry and are a challenge for the wider economy. Businesses need to be able to make a sustainable trading margin but they must also pay attention to their pricing and how they can continue to deliver added value to ensure their long-term viability.
In this regard it is worth pointing to the Increased Costs of Business Scheme introduced by my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the recent announcement by the Minister of Finance, Michael McGrath, of significant changes to the Tax Debt Warehousing scheme with a reduction in the interest rate applying to warehoused tax debt to 0%. Both these measures will be of direct benefit to a wide range of businesses within the tourism sector in terms of helping their own operational sustainability and, one would hope, in maintaining the best possible value for money proposition for their customers.
