Rural Airbnb providers not happy with 'bad press' says Mayo councillor

A MAYO councillor has bemoaned the 'bad press' Airbnb operators get saying they are providing a ‘badly needed' service' in rural areas where there is a lack of tourism accommodation.

Louisburgh-based councillor, Chris Maxwell told the monthly meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District that Airbnb is providing people an opportunity to make a living and feels people using the service should not be vilified.

“In my area a lot of people are into Airbnb and they think they are getting a lot of negative press about the situation. There are no hotels back our side and they are providing a service for tourism and a place to stay. All they are doing is trying to make a living and provide a service but they seem to be getting bad press and they are not too happy about it,” he said.

The Independent Ireland councillors comments sparked a wider discussion about Louisburgh during the meeting. Westport councillor Peter Flynn highlighted that the last butcher shop in the west Mayo town was due to close and claimed that the retail core has 'been ripped out of it'.

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“In reality there are no hotels or direct guest houses anymore of any size within the Louisburgh area and recently the last butcher shop went. The whole retail core of Louisburgh has been ripped out of it. As a council we need to figure out where we are going wrong in a town like Louisburgh that has lost its key providers and something is not right. There is any amount of quality houses out there but yet we don't have a vibrant community to allow businesses and hotels to thrive,” he said.

The Fine Gael councillor called on Mayo County Council to 'think hard' on how we get Louisburgh 'back on its feet and thriving'.

“We need to help the Louisburgh community and figure out what has gone wrong. When we have a scenario where there are five hotels shut down over the last two decades and all the key retail shops have shut down, someone needs to sit up and figure out how to rectify this quickly.

“It is a beautiful town and a brilliant community but there is something not right. The butcher shop going is the last nail in the coffin and it is awful to see,” he said.

The meeting also heard that there are only two pubs in the town when there was once ten. Cllr Maxwell pointed out that the Louisburgh area has the beaches and the natural amenities to thrive as a tourism destination and that is why he feels attacks on Airbnb's providers is not justified.

“Yes help is needed and whatever we get we will take and we need to bring that town back to life again. Tourism is a significant factor that will make a difference out there. That is why people with Airbnb are concerned and think they are being singled out. They are providing a badly needed service because there is nothing else in terms of accommodation.

“There are a lot of good things that will happen in Louisburgh and I will push for any developments to the area,” he commented.