IHF wants 2040 funding sooner
THE President of the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) has called for the €300 million allocated to tourism in Project Ireland 2040 to be frontloaded.
Currently the allocation is weighed towards the second half of the plan.
Speaking at the Federation’s recent AGM Joe Dolan said that sustaining Ireland’s tourism success depends on a strategic approach by Government and other state partners to marketing, tourism and hospitality skills provision, as well as a specific focus on regional tourism development, so that tourism benefits those rural areas outside the key urban centres and traditional tourism hotspots.
“Despite the upturn, the hotels’ sector- most especially in rural areas - is still a number of years away from achieving sustainability. There is a need for new creative thinking. Project Ireland 2040 contains a stated commitment to rural regeneration with a fund established to promote rural renewal,” said Mr Dolan.
“We would like to be a positive stakeholder in that process. We are on the ground in every town and county and have the market intelligence and business expertise to advise,” he said. “We all have seen the closed shops, the derelict buildings in too many of our towns. Tourism can be a real driver in turning towns and villages around by providing new employment and a new lease of life that embraces the benefits that tourism can bring, once the right strategy and supports are in place,” he said.
Mr Dolan called for more support for training programmes that enable people to “earn and learn”.
He pointed to the new National Commis Chef Apprenticeship Programme. Describing it as an important first step and an example of the commitment to continued education and training that is required. The industry-led “earn as you learn” programme, which the IHF was involved in developing along with the Kerry ETB provides young aspiring chefs across Ireland with a two year formal programme.