Local support is key to Dingle’s future growth...

A RECENT National Survey highlights Dingle as one of the hardest hit areas, 4th in the list of top 15 most vulnerable towns in Ireland, from the impact of the virus lockdown. The survey concentrated on Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation all areas that the economy of the Dingle Peninsula has become over reliant on especially in the past 10 years. This is certainly a reminder for our politicians and various authorities such as County Council, IDA and Údarás na Gaeltachta to promote different opportunities to diversify the income streams outside of tourism in the Peninsula.

Dingle Peninsula Tourism Alliance and Business Chamber are appealing to all residents on the Peninsula to make every effort to SHOP LOCAL not alone during the lockdown but also on an ongoing basis thereafter and help ensure the continued employment in all our local outlets. They also appeal for the continued support of all the local service operators and especially locally made goods and produce. Almost all everyday services are available in the Peninsula from major construction down to small repairs operators and the wage packets from all employments contribute greatly to the economic life of the area.

The Consumers Association state that every €10 in a wage packet is worth €25 to the locally economy at it turns over at least 2.5 times in the immediate area. There are at least 300 different outlets employing over 2000 people in Tourism related businesses on the Peninsula. Currently 1000 of these are unemployed plus a further 1000 seasonal workers that never got to start work in 2020. Some 200 to 300 local second and third level students and approximately 700 seasonal workers come into the area also. 10% on the outlets may never open again if tourism does not reopen by mid-June and 20% may never open again if tourism is not reopened by mid-September.

The Dingle Peninsula Tourism Alliance are inviting their members to log into Webinars weekly with different topics relating to the promotion of their respective businesses being discussed and useful restart related topics and tips in each session.

No matter how large or small - money spent in your own locality is so important for the continued employment of all who are so lucky to have jobs in such a beautiful environment in the Dingle Peninsula. It also helps to keep our local outlets big and small open into whatever the future holds for the next generation.

Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine!

Dingle Business Chamber will be posting all up to date Covid business support information on our social media channels and our website www.dinglebusinesschamber.ie Instagram @dingle_business