Tourists complain about high cost for holidays in Ireland

Robert Besser
18 Sep 2022, 16:51 GMT+10

Ireland's Department of Tourism has reported receiving complaints from both the public and tourists about the high cost of going on holiday in Ireland this summer.
Complaints particularly focused on the cost of renting cars for Irish holidays, often costing four times or more what the price had been two or three years earlier.
Some complaints even said it would be necessary to cancel planned trips to Ireland because of the increased costs.

DUBLIN, Ireland: Ireland's Department of Tourism has reported receiving one hundred complaints from both the public and tourists about the high cost of going on holiday in Ireland this summer.

Complaints particularly focused on the cost of renting cars for Irish holidays, often costing four times or more what the price had been two or three years earlier.

Some complaints even said it would be necessary to cancel planned trips to Ireland because of the increased costs.

Among the complaints, the ministry noted a German family, like others, who canceled their Irish holiday due to rising costs.

They wrote the ministry, "The prices for rentals have risen at least four times. Holidays in Ireland are no longer affordable. I hope this will change soon and everything will return to normal."

Complaints also described "price-gouging hotels," with one letter writer claiming they had stayed in a private suite in Las Vegas for what they were charged for a moderate hotel in Cork.

The ministry also said they had heard from Irishmen who said they would vacation outside the country because of the costs inside Ireland.

The Department of Tourism said they had received more than 100 complaints this summer.

"It is clear that tourism businesses, as well as many other sectors, are facing cost inflation and other economic stresses, including rising energy costs and increased wages in a competitive recruitment market," said a spokesperson from the ministry.

"It is important that a balance is struck and for the industry to maintain the value-for-money proposition for Irish tourism in the longer term."