We need detailed roadmap for reopening, say hoteliers
LOCAL hoteliers and guesthouse owners are calling on the government to clarify next week what the reopening of the sector will look like.
They are also seeking a commitment to specific measures and supports, including intercounty travel, that will enable businesses to plan effectively for a safe and sustainable reopening.
Michael Yates, who is chairman of the Sligo-Leitrim-Roscommon branch of the Irish Hotels Federation, said: “With June just over a month away, hotel bookings nationally are at an historic low, currently averaging only 22% for the key months of July and August.
“It is critical that the Government gives clarity to consumers and businesses as a matter of urgency.
“We are asking the Government to outline a more detailed roadmap for reopening the hotels sector safely, based on clear progress markers for restrictions to be eased in line with public health improvements.”
Mr Yates, who is manager of the Diamond Coast Hotel in Enniscrone, said while they recognised the challenges around public health and supressing Covid that the government was facing, “the ongoing lack of detail is jeopardising the viability of hotels and guesthouses as they grapple with the financial and operational commitments required to be ready to reopen after months of prolonged closure”.
“Booking levels have never been this low so close to the key summer months, which are a lifebuoy for many businesses for the remainder of the year.
“Unless this is turned around quickly, there will be serious implications for the recovery of our sector here in Sligo and Leitrim as well as elsewhere that could take years to remedy.”
The Irish Hotels Federation is calling for the government to commit to a number of measures to enable hotels and guesthouses reopen safely and sustainably.
These include inter-county travel to be permitted, hotels to be open to all patrons whether residents or not, capacity to be linked to function room size for events, outdoor capacity to be linked to space available, plans to be put in place for easing of restrictions for family gatherings, such as weddings and christenings, the EU Digital Green Certificate to be adopted and plans to be put in place for other vaccinated international travellers.
Mr Yates said they also required a commitment on business and employment supports.
“While the supports to date have been very welcome, it is essential that the government provides greater clarity and certainty now around supports into 2022 and beyond. ‘Wait and see’ is not the approach for sustainable business planning and job recovery.”
He said that public health remains their number one priority as society and the economy is reopened.
But he said the hotels sector has “a vital role to play as part of this process in ensuring Irish tourism and hospitality returns to a more stable footing in the months ahead – helping to sustain thousands of businesses and almost 270,000 livelihoods throughout the country”.
“These jobs represent 11% of total employment nationally and, with 70% located outside of Dublin, the regional contribution is vital to many communities. Here in Sligo and Leitrim tourism pre-Covid supported 4,900 jobs and contributed €178 million to the local economy. “With over 160,000 tourism jobs lost over the last year, including many here in Sligo and Leitrim, recovery of tourism and hospitality must be to the fore of Government economic policy as we seek to restore employment levels as quickly as possible,” he said.
Sligo Colmcille 2021 is a communityled, year-long initiative commemorating the 1500th anniversary of the birth of Colmcille and his associations with County Sligo through an exciting and varied programme of virtual and off-line artistic, cultural, and creative activities, events, and projects delivered by community organisations and individuals.
This year, 2021, is the 1500th anniversary of the birth of Colmcille, one of Ireland’s three patron saints, and commemorative activities are taking place throughout Ireland and abroad to mark this occasion. Most associated with Donegal, Derry, and Iona, Scotland, his influence extended farther afield including to Sligo where he is attributed with the founding of Drumcliffe monastery near to the site of the Battle of Cúl Dreimhne (Cooldrumman). More popularly referred to as the “Battle of the Books”, which took place in or about 560CE, the battle was reputedly caused by Colmcille’s having made a copy of a psalter (book of Psalms) owned by Saint Finnian of Movilla without his permission.
The resulting quarrel over ownership of the copy led to the first recorded copyright infringement judgement when High King Diarmait mac Cerbaill ruled in Finnian’s favour by declaring “to every cow her calf, to every book its copy”. Unhappy with this judgement, Colmcille and his kinsmen met in battle with the supporters of the High King on the lower slopes of Benbulben and it is recorded that approximately 3,000 participants were killed. To commemorate the 1500th anniversary and Sligo’s associations with the saint, Drumcliffe Rathcormac Tidy Towns and the Cos Cos Festival have joined forces under the Colmcille Sligo 2021 banner (www.sligocolmcille. com) to organise a year-long programme of community-led artistic, cultural, and creative activities, events, and projects. Drawing inspiration from the life of Colmcille, the Battle of the Books, the issue of copyright infringement, and the landscape and heritage of the Drumcliffe area, the programme incorporates contributions from a number of community organisations and creatives. These include virtual on-line presentations of specially composed musical pieces, lectures, and concerts, some of which form part of the Cos Cos Festival 2021 programme schedule (www.coscos.ie).
Also planned is a sculptural installation and public garden in Rathcormac, an exciting ‘Book of Sligo’ publication, a Hamilton Gallery art exhibition, and other community-led initiatives. These can be viewed on the Programme page of the Sligo Colmcille 2021 website, which also includes information about of Sligo’s Colmcille story and heritage.