The allocation of a significant portion of Irish hotel capacity to house refugees, coupled with the lack of new hotel construction, has raised concerns among tourism leaders about potential problems in the future. Fáilte Ireland CEO, Paul Kelly, and Irish Tourism Industry Confederation CEO, Eoghan O’Mara Walsh, have both emphasized the urgent need to prioritize returning hotel beds to tourism purposes. Last month, a confidential government memo highlighted the potential €1.1bn impact on the industry due to the shortage of hotel beds and the ramifications of using hotels for long-term refugee and humanitarian purposes.
Fota Wildlife Park, located in east Cork, experienced a decline in visitor numbers from 475,000 in 2021 to 417,000 last year. This decrease came as a surprise, as it was expected that Fota would reach the 500,000 visitor mark after a bounce-back year in 2021. According to Fota director Sean McKeown, a shortage of local hotel accommodation contributed to the decline in visitors. Many potential visitors inquired about local accommodations, but the lack of hotel capacity in east Cork and Cork itself proved to be a significant issue. As a result, families opted not to visit Fota or the wider east Cork region. Additionally, the limited availability of hotel beds led to higher prices, making it unaffordable for many visitors, especially during the peak summer season.
This accommodation crisis is not only affecting Fota Wildlife Park but also other visitor attractions, restaurants, pubs, cafes, and shops. The implications extend beyond the park itself, impacting the overall economy of the region. Fota, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this week, has invested heavily in its animal attractions and infrastructure, more than doubling the number of species since 1983. It is hailed as the world’s top breeding center for endangered species and contributes around €200 million to the local economy annually. The park maintains a strong partnership with local accommodation providers and seeks to attract cruise liner passengers from nearby Cobh to further boost tourism in the area.
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