Wexford tourism shoots down Conor McGregor's ‘damaging' claims there are no hotels
'And our tourism providers are dedicated to welcoming guests year-round'
The General Manager of the Talbot Hotel in Wexford has dismissed 'misleading' claims by Conor McGregor that there are no hotels in the county as they are 'all transferred into IPAS'.
The MMA fighter made the claim in a widely-watched online interview with the former Fox News host Tucker Carlson that there are no hotels available in Wexford as they are being used to accommodate international protection applicants.
During a conversation about his visit to the Oval Office for St Patrick's Day, McGregor said Wexford was known as the sunny south-east. 'Now, no more,' McGregor said.
Instead, McGregor used it as one of a number of opportunities to address his perception of Ireland's migration crisis.
'There is (sic) no hotels available in Wexford,' he claimed. 'They're all transferred into IPAS, which are international protection applicant services. It's this racket where they're all getting housed.'
Quick searches by fact-checkers, however, confirmed there were many hotel rooms available to book even as the interview aired.
Conor McGregor
Conor McGregor talks presidential run in interview with controversial US host Tucker Carlson
And, calling the claims 'misleading' and 'damaging' to local businesses, Robert Miller, General Manager of the Talbot Hotel and spokesperson for Visit Wexford, told South East Radio: 'Wexford is open for tourism.'
'We have over 240 accommodation offerings – from hotels and guesthouses to B&Bs and self-catering stays – and a strong midweek and weekend trade,' he said.
The radio station reports how Miller used real-time data sourced from booking platforms to prove that Wexford currently has a 58% average occupancy rate, just slightly below the national figure of 61%.
He also highlighted the diverse accommodation available, from the Talbot Hotel in Wexford Town to the Ashdown Park Hotel in Gorey and the Brandon House Hotel in New Ross.
Miller acknowledged that while some hotels in Wexford have entered into agreements with the State to house asylum seekers, he pointed out that these make up a minority of the county's accommodation capacity.
'Wexford is not full,' he said. 'And our tourism providers are dedicated to welcoming guests year-round.'
Miller highlighted upcoming plans, including a Destination Experience Development Plan in partnership with Fáilte Ireland and Wexford County Council, that aimed at boosting sustainable tourism across the county.
He also encouraged public engagement, inviting suggestions via VisitWexford.ie.
Miller's comments follow those of Wexford Labour councillor Vicky Barron who told South East Radio News that Conor McGregor does not speak for her, or for her party.
'We need to call this out,' Cllr Barron told the station. 'Conor McGregor does not speak for me, nor does he speak for any member of the Labour Party.
'He misread a headline, obviously, and then created a completely false narrative about our hotels in Wexford. And for the record, let's get it on the record, Wexford has lots of accommodation.
'We have wonderful things to do here. We are a beautiful county. And you know what? We welcome everyone. We need to keep digging for the truth. We have to dig deep, especially when it gets buried under all the drama.'
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2 days ago
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Irish Times
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2 days ago
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