The president of the Irish Hotels Federation, Mr Richard Bourke, yesterday highlighted the importance of building competitiveness within the EU as he addressed delegates on the eve of a major two-day EU conference in Dublin entitled "Charting Tourism Success".
Mr Bourke said competitiveness and stimulating market demand must remain the priority for tourism, and that all EU regulations should be geared towards these objectives.
In welcoming the 200 delegates at a reception in Jurys Hotel, Ballsbridge, Mr Bourke said: "Competitiveness has become a hugely important issue, both here in Ireland and at a European level; after all the EU now competes in a world market.
"Tomorrow's conference hosted by Fáilte Ireland will focus on the issue of competitiveness within the tourism industry, and will, I hope, address some of the areas that are currently impacting on Ireland's competitiveness." Mr Bourke drew attention to the EU's Lisbon Strategy. This set a goal for the EU to become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world in the next decade.
"I believe that the priorities proposed by Ireland for the recent spring European Council, entitled 'Europeans Working Together for Growth and Dynamism in the Enlarged Europe' can assist the EU in achieving its goal.
"From the Irish tourism industry's perspective, removing any barriers to access is one of the most crucial issues currently facing our industry.
"As an island, Ireland is totally dependent on air and sea access, therefore any disincentives to the growth of these modes of transport would seriously hinder the development of Irish tourism, including the growth of low-cost air carriers."