War have all the Skellig tourists gone?
Conflict in Ukraine blamed for fewer bookings to island
THE force appears to be fading on Skellig Michael with the ongoing war in Ukraine cited as a factor behind a slump in bookings to the island.
The protected Co Kerry location, which has become a mecca for Star Wars fans in recent years, is due to open up to visitors tomorrow for its first full season since 2019.
In pre-covid times, most of the vessels licensed to land on the UNESCO world heritage site would be all but booked out ahead of the start of the Atlantic outpost’s restricted four-and-a-half month visiting season.
However, boat operators have noted an “unusually quiet” start to the season, with some blaming the conflict in Ukraine for a sharp decline in interest from international tourists, particularly those from the US.
American visitors have shunned Ireland in the past during times of global strife, including the Gulf War in 1990 and the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, when inbound visitor numbers from the US nosedived by a fifth overnight. And now
Skellig Michael – one of many Co Kerry attractions heavily dependent on the big-spending US market – looks likely to experience a drop-off in visiting Americans.
Donal Mccrohan, one of 15 boatmen granted licenses for the upcoming visitor season, said: “We’re definitely not at the levels we were used to seeing in pre-covid times.
“There’s bookings coming in, but it’s a lot quieter than it was in the years before Covid.
“Americans usually book earlier in the season, but their numbers are particularly down and I think that’s down to the war in Ukraine, which is making visitors from the US nervous about coming over to Europe.”
The breathtaking island, which was famously used as a filming location for two recent Star Wars blockbusters, was closed off for visitors for the whole of 2020 due to the pandemic.
But despite only opening up in July last year for a shorter visitor season, numbers still hit an impressive 12,060 – 90% of who were made up from the domestic market.
Mr Mccrohan, a Portmagee-based boatman of 30 years, continued: “Another reason for things being slower is that many Irish are going abroad this year, instead of holidaying at home.
“I think inflation and the rising costs families are facing are also playing a part, too.”
Gerard Kennedy runs the popular Moorings Guesthouse and Bridge Bar in Portmagee, the Kerry coastal village from where most Skellig-bound boats depart.
He said: “I think there might be a perception out there that it’s impossible to get a boat to Skellig Michael, because they’re all booked out.
“That might have been the case in previous years ahead of the season, but it’s not the case this time.”
It’s a lot quieter than it was before Covid
DONAL MCCROHAN SKELLIG BOATMAN