Tourism tax will be not be welcomed says Mayo hotelier
Westport hotelier Joe Corcoran calls on local councillors in Mayo not to support any calls for an introduction of a tourism tax
A Westport hotelier has called on Mayo councillors to reject any potential calls for a tourism tax saying that hotels have already faced a 'tsunami of increases over the past couple of years'.
Proposals to introduce a tourism tax have been raised in recent weeks with recent research by the University of Galway finding that a nightly tourist tax of €5 per person could raise more than €200 million for local authorities.
Such levies are already common across a number of European cities but Westport hotelier Joe Corcoran said any plans to introduce similar levies in Mayo have to be opposed.
Speaking at the monthly meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District, Mr Corcoran director of the Westport Hotel Group which includes The Castlecourt Hotel said that hotels in Westport already bring in €1 million in rates for Mayo County Council and urged local councillors not to support calls for a tourism tax.
“There is talk in a lot of councils of a bedroom tax, and the hotels in this area would feel that with all the rates we pay that there's already been a tsunami of increases over the past couple of years. The rates were all reevaluated a couple of years ago so the rates would have come up substantially for hotels.
“The cost in the last few years has really gone up. The Government has helped with the VAT reduction but we feel if a bedroom tax does come on the agenda, we'd like to urge the councilors not to support it,” he said.
Mr Corcoran made his comments as a representative of Destination Westport where a presentation was given to local councillors about the group which represents the nine Westport-based hotels as well the Westport Estate and promotes tourism in the region.
His comments were supported by a number of the councillors present who said hoteliers already contribute €65 per room towards Destination Westport to promote Westport and attract visitors to the west of the county.
Cathaoirleach of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District, Cllr Brendan Mulroy said that he would not support calls for a tourism tax.
“As long as I'm around here, I want to vote for any tax when you're already putting tax on yourself so that you can promote your own hotel and promote the top hotels around Westport, which is absolutely fantastic. For the government to come in and tax you again because of your success, would be highly wrong,” said Cllr Mulroy.
Achill-based councillor Paul McNamara also said he would not support any proposals for a tourism tax and called on the Government to support businesses instead of taxing them.
“If we do see a bedroom tax come in, well, that will definitely be destination end, not just for Westport but for every other area because that cannot be sustained. We've seen all the increases in the past number of years.
“Increased costs are a big problem in all businesses and all industries and if governments and councils don't see sense and put on a business hat when they start implementing taxes on businesses, you will see a lot of businesses fall unfortunately.
“Businesses don't get an easy ride and it's time councils and governments looked at businesses and put on a business hat instead of constantly looking at how they can get more out of these businesses,” he said.