Fáilte Ireland warned uncertainty over Dublin Airport’s passenger cap, value-for-money, and U.S. citizens feeling “less welcome” in Europe were key risks for tourism here.
Their corporate risk register said the lack of certainty over numbers allowed to pass through the country’s main airport meant encouraging Irish tourists to holiday at home was doubly important.
It would not only boost tourism here but would also “somewhat reduce the domestic pressure on the airport.”
The risk register outlined how they should work with the DAA to get a “speedy resolution” on the cap and in the meantime also encourage airlines to use regional airports.
Fáilte Ireland also feared a decline in travel to Ireland as a result of changes to perceptions over whether we were a “value-for-money destination.”
It emphasised they needed to work with industry to encourage better deals and help with shortages of skills and labour.
The risk register said: “We are rolling out a commercial resilience framework to support businesses to manage these challenges, remain commercially resilient and competitive.”
The passenger cap and value-for-money were two of nine risks considered to be in the medium to high range by Fáilte Ireland.
One of them highlighted “emerging economic factors” in the United States that could be challenging for Ireland.
This included exchange rates, ongoing uncertainty and how the “perception of being less welcome in Europe may lead to a reduction in U.S. visitors.”
The tourism promotion agency also warned proposed laws on short-term lettings had the potential to damage their reputation.
You can read a copy of the full document below.