Dublin city businesses which benefit from tourism but do not contribute to the marketing effort are "freeloaders", according to the chief executive of Dublin Tourism.
Mr Frank Magee said the beneficiaries far outnumbered the contributors when it came to promoting the city.
Speaking at the Dublin launch of Bord Failte's tourism marketing plan for 1998, he said the success of tourism in the city had been a significant contributor to the buoyant economy. The people who benefited included retail outlets, pubs, entertainment venues, computer suppliers and banks.
Mr Magee produced figures to illustrate the growth in accommodation between 1991 and 1997. The number of hotel rooms increased by 40 per cent, from 4,515 to 6,326. Rooms in guest houses and bed-and-breakfasts increased by 71 per cent. However, the biggest increase by far was the 421 per cent jump in self-catering accommodation.
Mr Magee said the challenge facing the accommodation owners was to ensure the viability of the huge investment in this infrastructure through creative marketing campaigns to help increase Dublin's market share against stiff international competition.
The litter problem in the city was too great to ignore, Mr Magee added. "We must all work harder to make Dublin a more attractive place, not only for its citizens but for all the visitors". Only the enforcement of litter laws would bring about results.