According to official statistics, the number of tourist beds utilised to shelter Ukrainian refugees and applications for international protection has decreased by 15% during the previous six months, reports Breaking News.
A total of 65,457 beds under contracts with the government for hosting refugees and asylum seekers were filled in November 2024, according to new research conducted by Fáilte Ireland. This represents a fall of about 12,000 beds from May 2024.
Nonetheless, according to Fáilte Ireland, the relocated bed stock still has an annual economic impact on the tourist industry of at least €400 million and maybe as much as €670 million, reports Breaking News.
The estimates pertain to the possible loss of tourism expenditures that are not related to the lodging industry.
According to Fáilte Ireland, a “supply-demand imbalance” is causing costs to rise as a result of the industry’s inability to fulfil demand from both local and foreign travellers due to the unavailability of some tourist accommodations, reports Breaking News.
“Inbound tour operators say it is very difficult to get suitable ‘bed blocks’ at internationally competitive rates, especially in mid-market hotels,” it added, reports Breaking News.
The issue was also causing decreased turnover for non-accommodation tourist enterprises, which worried the national tourism development organisation.
The number of beds under contract in homes registered with Fáilte Ireland has decreased by 30% in the last six months, according to the most recent data, reports Breaking News.
Due to the move, around 7,500 beds may once again be accessible for use as lodging for tourists within the next six months.
According to statistics from the Department of Children and Integration, Fáilte Ireland reported that the whole stock of registered tourist beds under contract was just 7% presently, down from 12% a year ago and 10% last May, reports Breaking News.
It did concede, though, that the number could underestimate the true effect of contractual beds on the supply of lodging for tourists.
“For every Fáilte Ireland-registered bed und contract there is up to one more bed in unregistered tourism relevant sites,” it added, reports Breaking News.
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