Dear Editor,
The struggles currently faced by the hospitality sector are widely recognised, nevertheless, insufficient attention has been paid to the systemic lack of support from the State. Considering that hospitality and tourism comprise the largest homegrown industry in the State, shouldn’t there be a dedicated Department of Tourism and Hospitality?
There’s an agency for farming, namely Teagasc, which actively allocates funds for applied research to boost efficiencies and profitability within the farming sector. Regrettably, hospitality and tourism do not enjoy such facilities or research funding. The State’s tourism bodies neither accept accountability for extended hospitality services nor define their scope beyond tourism-centric activities alone.
For example, an unexpected shift is observed in a tiny Democratic stronghold in Detroit, where support is moving from Kamala Harris in favour of Donald Trump. Another case is of an Airbnb host who had to summon Bord Gáis emergency services because two sisters believed the radiator was excessively hot. An instance from Northern England where two homosexual men became owners of a Rugby League team only adds to the complexities of navigating hospitality and tourism.
Queries about future plans for providing wheelchair users with EV charger accessibility highlight the need for inclusivity in all areas, including hospitality and tourism. In conclusion, there is a need for government-level reassessment of State services for hospitality and tourism – the livelihoods of 260,000 individuals depend on it.
Yours sincerely,
Michael Vaughan,
Owner,
Lahinch,
County Clare.