“With the right policies and a positive businesses environment, tourism and hospitality has a bright future ahead,” says IHF President Michael Magner
Irish Hotels Federation President Michael Magner today congratulated Peter Burke, TD on being named Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment. Mr Burke takes up the tourism portfolio at a critical junction for the industry, with businesses facing enormous pressure in relation to ever-increasing operating costs
Mr Magner says: “On behalf of hotels and guesthouses throughout the country, I would like to congratulate Minister Peter Burke on his appointment and expanded remit covering tourism – our largest indigenous employer, supporting over 270,000 livelihoods. He has been a strong supporter of Irish tourism during his career to date, and we look forward to continuing to work with him and his colleagues in Government to address the challenges now facing our industry. “
“With the right policies in place, we believe that tourism and hospitality has a bright future ahead,” says Mr Magner. “Minister Burke will have a pivotal role to play in creating a positive business environment for enterprises throughout our sector and ensuring tourism remains at the heart of Government economic policy. This will require a shift in mindset over the next five years to put our industry on a more stable footing.”
Commenting on the repositioning of the sector within a reconfigured Department of Enterprise and Tourism, Mr Magner says: “This is a very welcome development and will facilitate a more joined-up and coherent approach to best support tourism businesses. It will also ensure a greater focus on creating the optimum conditions for business viability and maximising our potential as a key driver of growth and prosperity.”
Mr Magner welcomed the commitment as part of the programme for Government to bring forward measures to support SMEs within the hospitality sector. He said: “We see enormous opportunities for further growth and development of tourism and hospitality. A permanent reduction in the rate of VAT for food service businesses would be a very welcome and important first step. This would greatly assist the many vulnerable food-led businesses that have faced an uncertain future and mounting cost challenges in recent years.”
Mr Magner thanked outgoing tourism Minster Catherine Martin for her commitment to the industry throughout her tenure, including during the pandemic when many businesses faced very challenging operating conditions. He stated that Catherine Martin’s strong voice and support for tourism at the cabinet table had been instrumental in securing vital measures to assist struggling enterprises, underpinning the survival of the industry at an exceptionally difficult time.
