Westport ‘too expensive’ for domestic tourists

The high cost of visiting Westport is forcing domestic tourists to look abroad for value, according to a local councillor. Criticising the cost of accommodation and eating out in the town, Independent councillor John O’Malley said Westport businesses need to ‘cop themselves on’.

The business community in Westport recently warned that rate and VAT hikes in the last year along with other rising costs will result in some businesses closing their doors for good.

However, Cllr O’Malley told a meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District that some businesses are not helping themselves by charging ‘exorbitant’ prices for accommodation and food.

“People aren’t coming because it is too expensive. The hotels are charging exorbitant prices. I know of one person who came to Westport to stay for one night and she was charged €235 for one night. When you hear things like that it does not put people off when they can go abroad and get a better deal.

“Things are so expensive in Westport now. I had dinner recently, and God almighty, I paid €24 and I was still hungry. People are out pricing themselves so they are, and the bottom line is if we are too expensive people are not going to come to us. It is as simple as that.

“It is time for businesspeople who provide beds and everything else to cop themselves on if they want people to come here. There is not an abundance of money, and people can get much better value if they travel out of the country, where they are guaranteed better weather. So they should cop themselves on,” he told the meeting.

‘Devastating effect’

CLLR O’Malley’s comments were not supported by his fellow Westport-based councillors, who said that while it can be expensive at times to stay in the town, businesspeople have been hit with overheads they cannot afford.

Fine Gael councillor Peter Flynn commented that businesspeople have faced a ‘tsunami of additional costs’ in recent years and these have to be taken into account.

“When you throw in what has happened with energy costs and the minimum wage, which is the highest in Europe and that has to be borne by the business owners… The VAT rate has gone from 9.5 percent to 13.5 percent, and that was a ridiculous decision by the Government and I am part of that Government party. Last but not least is the rate increase, which has come on top of the smaller businesses, so we need to have cognisance of the decisions made by the Government and the consequences of when you change the VAT rate and minimum wage rate. It has serious consequences for every business not just in Mayo but right across the country. I want to add that caution to the message,” he said.

Cllr Christy Hyland added that businesspeople had to take a number of factors into account when charging people, saying they should be supported more.

Cllr O’Malley explained that he made the comments after reading about a survey in which the majority of respondents said they would holiday abroad rather than opt for a ‘staycation’.

“Like I said, 62 percent of people surveyed said they were going abroad… I do agree that with the energy costs they may have to charge those prices to make ends meet, but I think people are going to say they can go abroad and be guaranteed good weather. If we have another summer like last year it will have a devastating effect on tourism in the Westport area,” he added.

Free parking

DURING the meeting, Westport councillors passed a motion calling for free parking permits for local businesspeople to help them to stay open during difficult times.

Cllr Hyland proposed the motion, saying that businesspeople in Westport who have paid their rates should be rewarded with free parking.

“It is important that we send out a message of support to the businesspeople, because there are thousands of restaurants closing around the country and it would be a nice token if we give free parking to those people,” he said.

Cllr O’Malley seconded the proposal, saying they should be given one space free.

Director of Services Catherine McConnell said that Mayo County Council does not provide free on-street parking but would provide free parking for the car parks if the members requested that. However, she asked them to set out which businesses should avail of the free parking before permits are given.