Ryanair News

 
News Release
08.10.09

Ryanair welcomes Tourism Renewal Group's call to axe the €10 tourist tax

 
 
Ryanair, the World’s favourite airline, today (8th Oct) called on the Irish Government to immediately implement the Tourism Renewal Group’s recommendation to axe the €10 tourist tax in order to stimulate Irish tourism. Irish traffic and tourism has collapsed since the 1st April introduction of this €10 tourist tax, at a time when both Ryanair and Aer Lingus continue to grow outside of Ireland.
 
The Irish Government has repeatedly claimed that the collapse in traffic at DAA airports is “due to the recession”. This is rubbish as Aer Lingus yesterday confirmed that its September traffic increased by 4% (up by 40,000 pax) while Ryanair reported 17% September growth (up 900,000 pax). Meanwhile at the high cost inefficient Government owned Dublin Airport traffic has collapsed by 10% so far this year – a loss of over 1.2m passengers.
 
The cause of Ireland’s traffic and tourism collapse is simple – it is due to the Irish Government’s crazy, unavoidable, €10 tourist tax and the DAA Monopoly’s high and unavoidable charges. 
 
Ryanair’s Stephen McNamara said:
 
“This Government’s tourist policy has been a failure, because rising airport costs and the unavoidable €10 tourist tax is devastating tourism and costing Ireland millions of visitors and thousands of jobs. The Belgian and Dutch Governments have realised this and recently scrapped their tourist taxes while the Greek and Spanish Governments have reduced airport fees – in some cases to zero – in order to attract new visitors, such as those being lost by Ireland.
 
It is time this Government reverses this failed tourist tax. They must listen to the Tourism Renewal Group and axe the tourist tax so that Ireland can once again start welcoming tourists instead of taxing them.”

 
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