A fall in the number of hotel beds being used to house refugees and international protection applicants is 'a move in the right direction', a tourism body has said.shows the number of registered tourist beds under contract to the Government has fallen by over 15% in the past six months.
The analysis is based on data provided by the Department of Children and Integration and shows there are 77,315 beds under contract.A concierge sign in a hotel reception in 1998. Picture by: Tetra Images / Alamy Stock PhotoIrish Tourism Industry Confederation CEO Eoghan O'Mara Walsh told"Last November we were extremely worried about the number of hotels and guesthouses which were contracted to the Government for humanitarian reasons.
"Figures from Fáilte Ireland just realised this week show that the numbers have reduced which is certainly a move in the right direction"."For every €1 a tourist spends on accomodation €2.50 is spent on ancillary tourism services restaurants, pubs, visitor attractions," he said."Fáilte Ireland actually estimated that over an annual period it's costing the tourism economy as much as €1bn.
"We'd like to see the diminution in State contracts continue because there's tourism towns right across the Wild Atlantic Way who still don't have an adequate supply of tourism beds.Mr O'Mara Walsh said a reduction supply will likely affect price but not as much as last year."The American market is looking strong but Britain, Europe and indeed the domestic market is looking quite soft".Main image: A twin queen bed hotel room, 25-5-19.