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"Large decline" in Donegal B&Bs 14.12.07
THERE is a "large
decline" in the number of registered B&Bs operating
in Donegal and other western regions, according to
the Town and County Homes Association.
And its chairperson, Kate Burns, told the
association's agm earlier this week that guesthouse
owners were not receiving the tax break support
afforded other business sectors.
"Tourism performance by region varies hugely and the
more rural and western regions like Donegal are
struggling with a large decline in the number of
operating B&Bs," said Ms. Burns. |
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"Tax breaks for the
other sectors have not been matched by support for
the B&B product while the proliferation of
unregistered and unapproved operators continues to
pull the reputation of the sector down. In addition,
there exists a lack of co-ordination between the
rural tourism |
product offerings.”
Nevertheless, the Ballyshannon-based association
said it could report a buoyant market demand for the
bed and breakfast product nationally.
“Market demand from Europe is up and the sector is
finding it a challenge to meet demand in key tourist
areas such as Dublin, Kerry, Galway and Waterford,"
said Ms. Burns.
She said more than 55 new B&Bs had joined the
association in 2007 with membership holding at well
over 1000, despite the loss of members who were
retiring from the business.
The Town and County Homes Association invested in
projects "of strategic importance" during 2007
including research into business and market
performance and trends for the sector; an investment
in new IT infrastructure so members could access the
best online marketing and booking opportunities and
a cross border project with Northern Ireland which
will see over 35 B&Bs become high level specialist
providers in products such as angling, heritage and
gourmet B&Bs.
“We very much welcome the new regional approach to
tourism development by Failte Ireland, but there
still appears to be a lack of working co-ordination
between local government, rural development, tourism
development and enterprise support.
"Major efforts are needed to address a market
perception that the Ireland tourism product exists
only in a few areas’, she says adding that “there
has been little financial support for the approved
B&B sector for many years now," added the
association chairperson. |
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