Councillors concerned by 'starship prices' charged in local hotels in Waterford 

Waterford Councillors have expressed their concerns over the prices being charged at hotels in Waterford amid concerns of a "big hole" in Fáilte Ireland's tourism plans for the Déise.

Councillor John Hearne raised concern that "one of the big problems" that Waterford City has in relation to tourism is the "starship prices being charged" by local hotels, at the recent Plenary meeting of Waterford City and County Council.

The Waterford City South Councillor raised these concerns during a debate regarding Fáilte Ireland's new five-year plan to drive and sustain tourism in Waterford. The plan report details the necessity of a "visitor attraction of scale" in order to have a "transformational" effect on tourism across the South East Region.

The plan, which aims to create a sustainable tourism destination in the city and county by extending the tourism season and spreading business over the next five years, was criticised for not addressing the root causes of the declining tourism to the region.

Cllr Hearne called on hotels to "do their bit" to reduce the prices they are charging potential visitors, saying that the council are "doing our bit, the government are doing their bit - they need to do their bit, to look at the people who looked after them."

The Sinn Fein Councillor noted the impact of geopolitical issues which were having an impact on the hotel industry in the south east, such the Russian invasion of Ukraine which has had a knock-on effect on the availability of hotels.

Councillor Hearne said: "Hopefully peace will happen in Ukraine and maybe that will free up some of their accommodation [in hotels]." 

The Metropolitan Mayor Cllr Joe Kelly raised the lack of hotels generally across Waterford and said there was a big hole in the Fáilte Ireland's "great plan".

Cllr Kelly said the plan's objectives are very positive but noted: "We need more hotels, we need more bed and breakfasts. My concern with the whole plan is the [lack of] funding to back it up, the big hole in the middle of the room in all of this is the actual lack of funding."