Some rural bed-and-breakfast operators are taking up part-time jobs or closing their B&Bs because of the slump in business over the past few years.
According to the Town and Country Homes Association (TCHA), rural operators are finding it harder to attract tourists due to increasing competition from towns, coupled with increasing customer demands.
"Some people have given up and retrained themselves for the workplace," said Ms Margaret Storey, chief executive of the TCHA. "There are always people retiring after 20 or 30 years in the business but this is a new development. Last year, people who had a very bad year said that they would give it another chance and try more marketing but it seems to be worse this year." The TCHA represents about 1,900 guesthouse owners around the State. Ms Storey said customer demands were changing and people wanted to be close to amenities. "If people have been driving in the car all day, they might not want to get into a car when they go out for the night. It's not only about pubs, because we have clients from all over the world who are not necessarily looking for pubs."
She said B&Bs also had to compete with unapproved accommodation, hostels and universities, which offered bed and breakfast during the summer. "We are trying to improve amenities in rural areas, such as facilities for hill-walking, cycling and fishing," she said.
The Irish Farmhouse Holidays (IFH) group, on the other hand, has not noticed a drop in custom, according to its chairwoman, Ms Kathryn Delany. The IFH represents about 450 farm guesthouses around the country.
She said that last summer had seen a "double figures" percentage increase in the business coming from tour operators and travel agents.
Ms Delany said that the first four months of this year had shown a constant increase in the overseas trade. "People are coming to us for more than bed and breakfast. Staying in farm guesthouse is a whole experience. I think that's why our custom is increasing," Ms Delany said.
Meanwhile, Bord Failte has strongly denied reports that numbers of tourists travelling to Ireland have fallen this year. A spokesman for Bord Failte said the organisation was exceeding its targets in most areas and meeting them in other areas. Central Statistics Office figures for the first quarter of this year show a 6.6 per cent increase in overseas visitors. Bord Failte's target for 2000 was a 6 per cent increase in visitor numbers.
The fine weather of recent days should improve the Irish experience for many tourists. Yesterday, temperatures exceeded 25C degrees in some parts of the Midlands. The good weather is expected to continue until the middle of next week, according to a spokeswoman for Met Eireann. She said that the west and northwest was likely to enjoy some of the warmest sunshine over the weekend, due to easterly winds.
