Fáilte Ireland to investigate high price of eating out

CLAIMS THAT high prices in Irish restaurants are deterring tourists are to be investigated by Fáilte Ireland.

Fáilte Ireland head of research and policy Brian Maher said eating out was an integral part of being on holiday.

"However, for a number of years, visitor surveys have revealed a level of dissatisfaction relating to perceived value for money in this regard," he said.

Although the issue had surfaced occasionally, there was little scientific evidence around food production costs, said Mr Maher. "Nor has there been any rigorous analysis of the issue."

London-based Irish chef Richard Corrigan told RTÉ radio yesterday that he was "shocked" at the cost of holidaying in Ireland this summer.

"I really, really am shocked. Everything seems to cost four or five or six euro more than the equivalent London experience. The real crux of the matter is the cost of operating in Ireland is so expensive."

The research will examine all costs to the industry, including raw materials, wages, health and safety and utility costs.

The pressure on the tourism industry was underlined by the release of figures showing the number of trips to Ireland by overseas visitors fell by 3 per cent in June compared with the same month last year.

The most recent CSO figures on overseas travel, published yesterday, show 749,000 trips were made by visitors to the State in June, a fall of 28,200 from June last year. A total of 750,500 visitors came in June 2006.

The number of visitors from North America fell most significantly, by 10 per cent, with 132,400 people coming from there in June compared with 147,800 in June last year and 141,400 in June 2006.

The numbers coming from Britain also fell, by 8 per cent, to 325,000 from 353,200 in June 2007 and 347,500 in June 2006.

Numbers from the rest of Europe, however, are up, from 224,900 in June 2006, to 240,600 in June 2007 and 249,500 in June this year. The numbers visiting from the rest of the world in June this year were also up - to 43,000, an increase on 32,200 in June last year and 36,700 in June 2006.

In June this year Irish people made 768,300 trips overseas, just marginally more than the 764,600 made in June last year and markedly higher than the 677,800 trips taken abroad by Irish people in June 2006.

In the first six months of this year there were 3,813,300 trips taken abroad, an increase of 5 per cent compared with the first six months of last year.

The number of Irish trips overseas in the first six months of the year has increased in each of the past four years, from 2,474,700 in 2004, to 2,834,100 in 2005, to 3,172,200 in the period January to June 2006.

The most popular month for Irish people to travel overseas was July in the years 2004 , 2005 and 2006 and August last year.