News
Budget 2022 a “big blow” to tourism industry
By Sean Moriarty
This week’s budget is a “big blow” to the tourism industry according to Chair of the Kerry branch of the Irish Hotel Federation (IHF) Bernadette Randles.
While she welcomed certain aspects of the budget, like the €90 million aviation package for Irish Airports she was left dismayed that the VAT rate in the hospitality sector, which is currently set at 9 percent will return to 13.5 percent at end of next August.
Ahead of the budget, hospitality sector officials were calling for this move to be delayed until 2025.
The tourism industry nationally, is trying to recover from a €7 billion hammering caused by COVID-19 travel restrictions.
Ms Randles acknowledges that the aviation package will help attract new visitors but said that if the overall package remains too expensive the net result will be fewer visitors.
“This is a big blow. We are in recovery and survival mode, we are already contracting for 2023 and if we have to turn around to these clients and say their rates have gone up again, well they just may go elsewhere,” she told the Killarney Advertiser. “We are trying to recover, we are not whining, we are being very practical about this. It is not just hotels, but the entire tourism industry.”
Additional cost increases facing the entire sector include fuel, coffee products and linen suppliers. Ms Randles confirmed that all of these industries have put up their prices in recent weeks.
This Culture Night, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh will present an hour-long live music and arts programme from Dún Lúiche in the heart of the Donegal Gaeltacht at 7pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
Actress and singer Jessie Buckley has been added to the list of stellar musicians who will perform with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra on the night. Jessie will perform a special rendition of a Sinéad O’Connor song in tribute to the late artist.
Jessie commented: “I am very honoured to return to Culture Night 2023 to remember Sinéad O Connor with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. Sinéad was such a huge influence on so many women in Ireland and across the world, her courage, her mind, her politics and her intense beauty and soul. She was a warrior to humanity. I remember hearing her for the first time and feeling her uncompromising need to connect and affect. Recognising what couldn’t be said and speaking it out loud. I am so grateful for all her fire and all her love. It is such a privilege to return to Ireland for RTÉ Culture Night in Donegal to sing a song of gratitude for Sinéad and her family and friends.”
Other artists performing with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra include The Murder Capital, R&B singer and 2FM Rising star Aby Coulibaly and Irish-based Ukrainian musician Olesya Zdorovetska.
Friday 22nd September, 7pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player
News
N22 Killarney to Faranfore road further delayed
The revealing of the preferred route corridor for the construction of the new Killarney to Farranfore road has been delayed – again. Four potential routes for the N22 Farranfore-Killarney project […]
The revealing of the preferred route corridor for the construction of the new Killarney to Farranfore road has been delayed – again.
Four potential routes for the N22 Farranfore-Killarney project were identified and were put out to public consultation in May 2021. These have now been whittled down to just one.
It was previously promised that the preferred route would be published late last year.
This dragged on in to the Spring and there is still no sigh of the preferred route being revealed.
A recent Kerry County Council meeting a council official explained that there are further funding requirements to allow the council complete various reports and investigations required before the road can move to its next phase.
Jessie Buckley to perform live on RTE this Friday 22nd September
This Culture Night, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh will present an hour-long live music and arts programme from Dún Lúiche in the...
N22 Killarney to Faranfore road further delayed
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