Latest news with #FailteIreland
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Wild Atlantic Way generated €2.4bn last year
Tourism in Ireland grew last year, with the number of overseas and domestic tourists increasing. More than eight million people travelled to Ireland last year, with a further 16.5 million domestic trips recorded, according to data released by Failte Ireland. The tourism industry here brought in almost €12bn, supporting an estimated 226,300 employees. The report notes that for every euro a tourist spends, 29 cents returns to the Exchequer, leading to an estimated €3bn in taxation. The total revenue from overseas tourists was €6.169bn, with North America being the highest-spending market at €2.216bn. An additional €1.5bn was spent by overseas visitors on fares to Irish carriers such as airlines and ferry operators, taking total foreign earnings to over €8bn. Expenditure from domestic tourism amounted to €3.6bn. Failte Ireland said Britain remains the largest source of visitors to Ireland at 2.7m but many of these visits were for work or to visit relatives. Failte Ireland noted that, last year, Ireland welcomed more holidaymakers from North America than from Britain. North American tourists were also the highest spenders, contributing €2.216bn in revenue. Overall, overseas tourists spent an average of €121 per person per day, with holidaymakers specifically spending €168 daily. The most common accommodation choice for overseas visitors was staying with friends or relatives, followed by hotels, while domestic travellers primarily opted for hotels. Regional performance showed strong demand across the country, with Dublin remaining the top destination for overseas visitors, attracting over four million tourists. On a brand region level, the Wild Atlantic Way was the most popular, welcoming over 2.3m overseas tourists and generating €2.37bn in revenue. Domestic tourism also thrived, with the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland's Ancient East, and Dublin being the most visited regions.
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Agri-tourism seen as lifeline for most vulnerable Irish farms
A renewed interest is being shown in agri-tourism as farmers seek ways to generate a second income to ensure a viable future for their families. The move is a result of looming challenges ranging from geo-political threats to trade, issues over the future funding of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and the impact of climate change and how to tackle it. Teagasc stresses that while agriculture will continue to be the cornerstone of rural areas, the need to generate a second income to attract a successor and ensure viability is a reality for most farm families. It has outlined how rural tourism has huge potential to revitalise local economies, provide job opportunities for farm household members, and enhance the quality of life of local communities. Failte Ireland data has also highlighted a significant increase in online searches related to rural tourism, reflecting the growing interest in the sector. The activities may involve staying on a farm or touring food trails and events, participating in agricultural endeavours, or buying produce direct from a farm or market. Margaret Edgill, an organic farmer, artisan food producer, and grower in Daingean, Co Offaly, also researched the sector as a Nuffield Scholar in 2023. Her report noted that agri-food and tourism, traditionally two of Ireland's strongest indigenous enterprise sectors, are built on the natural and human capital found in rural areas. Off-farm income She referenced the 2021 National Farm Survey (NFS), Viability of Farms by System, which found that 37% of cattle farms, both rearing and other, were vulnerable. These tended be the smallest farms at around 34ha each. Accordingly, there are over 24,500 vulnerable farms with 50% in the eastern and Midland region, 37% in the northern and western region, and 24% in the southern region. She explained that a holding is economically vulnerable if the farm business is not viable and if neither farmer nor spouse works off farm. Historically, one type of diversification is widely practised on Irish farms — off-farm income. Accordingly, 34% of surveyed farms are "sustainable" due to off-farm income. Driven by global trends of concentration, low commodity prices and rising input costs, agricultural producers worldwide are looking at new opportunities to diversify and add revenue streams to their business. A popular and growing opportunity is agri-tourism, which she described as a type of experiential travel which connects people to products or produce, delivered on farming land through a direct "on-farm" experience. She predicted that agri-tourism will be a significant growth industry for Ireland's rural economy and more especially pivotal in future-proofing farm incomes. It has the potential to provide opportunities for multi-generational farm enterprises and succession planning, she added, suggesting that a national agri-tourism strategy is a priority. Glamping and shepherd huts Barry Caslin, a Teagasc energy and rural development specialist, has also detailed various trends, including farm-stays, glamping, and shepherd huts, as profitable ways for farmers to diversify their income and attract visitors seeking rural experiences. He pointed out that Irish farmers have several agri-tourism options available to diversify their income streams and attract visitors seeking authentic rural experiences. Meanwhile, agriculture minister Martin Heydon issued a call last January for proposals for agri-food tourism initiatives under the 2025 Rural Innovation and Development Fund. He said tourism and the agri-food sector share close ties and complement each other well. The funding provides support towards the development of agri-food tourism initiatives to help rural businesses develop their products and services, connect with the community and visitors, and improve the rural experience. "Ireland's agri-food sector is one of the main drivers of Ireland's economy, especially in rural and coastal areas," he said. Guided by the Food Vision 2030 strategy, we continue to develop links between local food and tourism offerings Total funding of almost €300,000 was made available for projects supporting agri-food tourism initiatives, including rural food markets. The maximum amount payable to any project was €25,000. A positive response from the sector resulted in funding being made available to 22 local agri-food tourism projects. Mr Heydon said the geographical spread of the projects this year illustrates the interest in the sector, the development of agri-food tourism and its importance to communities countrywide. 'Our 10-year roadmap for the agriculture sector, Food Vision 2030, highlights the natural synergy between agri-food and local tourism,' he said. Mr Heydon noted that agri-food tourism in rural areas allows food companies of all sizes to showcase their people, landscape, history and culture through agricultural produce, food and drink and local cuisine. 'In addition, it provides opportunities for rural businesses, including farmers, producers and artisans to develop their products and services, diversify their businesses, connect with the local community, welcome visitors and improve skills and best practice,' he said. Food promotion minister of state Noel Grealish said the large volume of applications submitted shows the appetite the sector has for innovative and collaborative ventures. 'The competition for funding under this programme is intense and those who were successful should be congratulated for their proposals and their upcoming projects,' he said.
Irish Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
New laws could shut down 7,000 short term lets in Ireland
Almost all of the Irish Self-Catering Federation's 7,000 members will be shut down when new laws on short-term lets come into place, it has been warned. This comes as the federation says all of its members are 'effectively illegal' due to emergency legislation last month to extend Rent Pressure Zones to the entire country. Since then, thousands of short-term accommodation owners now need planning permission to legally run their business. And now new proposed legislation would see this planning permission for short-term lettings in cities and many towns around the country banned. The Short Term Letting and Tourism Bill, which would ensure compliance with the new EU Short Term Rental Regulation, will create a register of short-term lets by May 2026. Hosts offering accommodation up to and including 21 nights will be obliged to register with Failte Ireland. The proposed legislation would also see short-term lets banned in towns with more than 10,000 residents. IFSC chief Maire Ni Mhurchu said the self-catering sector is being 'unfairly scapegoated' in the housing debate. She added: 'These proposals threaten thousands of viable, long-established tourism businesses. 'Most are run by women over 45 in rural areas who rely on this income. Many of these properties were never in the long-term rental market and are not suitable for long-term rental. 'Yet they are being painted as part of the problem, while developers and institutional landlords remain untouched.' Ms Ni Mhurchu said it's devastating this proposed legislation would see almost all of the members cease to run. She said: 'With the emergency legislation we are all effectively illegal at this stage. [With proposed legislation] if you are in a rent pressure zone, you effectively cannot get planning for a short term rental. 'We have had people who have applied and they've gone ahead and they don't get it and they come back and say, 'What do we do now' and I say we can't do anything, if you've been turned down for planning that's it.' Ms Ni Mhurchu, who owns a holiday home in West Cork, said her livelihood will be gone. She added: 'It's part of my income, I'm retired, it's what I do, I retired knowing this was going to be part of my income. 'Most of the activity that takes place in self-catering is in rural areas not in urban areas, so the government is using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Most of our members will be gone. My house was built in the 1960s and we renovated it in 2000 when it was a wreck. We put a lot of money in it and it's grand for short-term rentals but you couldn't live in it permanently. 'There's a lot of houses like that around the country. It will cost me €6,000 to get planning, and anyone in the country can object to it.' In Kerry, 1,858 short-term rental properties currently serving the tourism sector have been identified as potentially suitable for long-term housing, according to a report by economist Jim Power. These units typically accommodate five guests and operate at an average occupancy rate of 50%. With an average visitor spend of €300 per person per week (excluding accommodation), these properties contribute an estimated €72.4million annually to Kerry's tourism economy. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Irish Independent
03-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Report into Bray to Greystones Cliff Walk finds closure ‘has cost national economy tens of millions in lost revenue'
The report, by Jim Power, will be launched in Greystones Sailing Club at 4pm, on Tuesday, June 3, by the community group, Friends of the Cliff Walk. Using national and international economic models, including Failte Ireland data, as well as information from local businesses, the report has found that the closure, now in its fifth year, has cost the national economy tens of millions of euro in lost revenue, with a corresponding negative financial impact on Wicklow, and on Greystones in particular. The report also shows how the closure runs counter to Wicklow County Council's own policies and objectives, including access to a public right of way, as well as national goals relating to exercise, fitness and combatting obesity. The report will be presented by Mr Power and the venue and surroundings (Greystones Marina with the Bray Head backdrop) make for a suitably photogenic setting for the launch. Jim Power is economic advisor to the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation and a former advisor to both Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Banks. He teaches at Dublin City University and the Smurfit Business School, and is a regular media commentator. Meanwhile, an update was provided on the Cliff Walk at the May meeting of Greystones Municipal District, in which councillors heard that the tender process for a report into the trail, has hit a setback. District manager Marc Devereux advised that because there was a query raised regarding that tender, that query has to be addressed, which resets the clock. While it was hoped that a successful consultant would have been awarded the tender for the report by now, the process has been delayed. Wicklow County Council has two tenders out for the Cliff Walk: one for rockfall stabilisation works to the value of €500,000, and the second to the value of €80,000 for the engineering report. The aim of tender process for the latter is to identify qualified experts to examine issues affecting the trail, and involves a number of key areas, including the condition of the Cliff Walk, the integrity of the rock face along Bray Head, and the identification of all points along the trail that are at risk of collapse.
Irish Independent
27-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Kerry seaside village gets exclusive boost to year-round tourism
Described as a 'best-in-class' outdoor tourism amenity, it promises to enhance the visitor experience at Fenit as a year-round tourist hub for outdoor activities that includes hot showers, changing rooms, toilets, secure storage, induction space, and equipment washdown areas. The build includes full wheelchair access and the installation of solar heating panels, 'Changing Places' facilities and accessible toilet. The Fenit Water Sports Activity Facility is one of 19 to be developed across 13 counties under the national scheme. Welcoming the development was the Mayor of Tralee Cllr Mikey Sheehy who said the project will enhance the tourist experience at the popular seaside village. 'This investment in the infrastructure for outdoor activities and the wide range of water-based adventures that take place here is a huge positive. Funded by Kerry County Council and Failte Ireland under the Platforms for Growth Programme, it will extend the tourism season in Fenit to all year-round,' he said. Fáilte Ireland said the project marks the beginning of a journey in developing a fantastic amenity that strengthens outdoor tourism. 'Kerry is renowned for its stunning landscapes, towering mountain peaks and its beautiful beaches, and Fenit is no exception,' said Fiona Monaghan, Head of Activities at Fáilte Ireland. She added that Fenit beach and village are key assets along the Wild Atlantic Way with much potential to attract both international and domestic visitors. 'We look forward to working with Kerry County Council to develop this best-in-class Water Sports Facility that will benefit both visitors and the local community while helping extend the outdoor activity season in the area,' Ms Monaghan added. The first Fáilte Ireland investment scheme of its kind, it specifically targets 'platforms' or projects that have the greatest potential to grow tourism across Ireland and strategically enhance the Irish tourism offering to meet visitor needs.
