Trespassers illegally parking on hotel properties are demanding up to €4,000 from proprietors in return for removing their vehicles, according to the chief executive of the Irish Hotels Federation.
At the federation's conference in Westport, Co Mayo, today, Mr John Power will urge the Government to change the laws of trespass to facilitate the speedy removal of unauthorised trespassers without the necessity of expensive litigation.
The IHF was seriously concerned at the growth in the number of these incidents. According to Mr Power, figures of up to €4,000 were being sought by individuals who parked vehicles and caravans without permission on the private property of hotels and guesthouses in the knowledge that obtaining a court order to remove them can cost in the region of €10,000.
"Our members are experiencing increasing incidents of this form of extortion during the past 12 months. Extortion seems to be the objective of these law-breakers who are only willing to remove their vehicles if cash sums are provided or a court order secured. This is an intolerable position."
Ms Mary Fitzgerald, president of the IHF, highlighted the threat of rogue claims under the Equal Status Act as another issue facing hoteliers. "Hotels are being threatened by some elements of society with legal action if compensation is not forthcoming. It is downright extortion and must be stamped out."
Mr Power said that the axing of a significant number of direct transatlantic flights to Ireland could result in a loss of €38 million in tourism earnings this year.
The loss of routes by carriers such as Aer Lingus, Delta and British Airways meant recovery targets this year following the foot- and-mouth crisis and the September 11th attacks were unlikely to be met. It had been hoped the industry would this year recover to the levels of 2000 when 6.3 million overseas visitors came to Ireland.
Mr Power said the number of seats available on direct transatlantic flights to the State had dropped by 21 per cent. "The fact that we have a number of airlines that cut routes and curtailed services is a serious regressive step, making any ambitions to resume a growth path extremely difficult."
He said the IHF would be calling at its conference for an extra €20 million spend by the Government on marketing Ireland overseas this year.
Meanwhile, a Bord Fáilte report published yesterday showed the number of tourists who visited the State last year fell by 7 per cent. Jobs in the economy supported by tourism expenditure also dropped by 7,000, the Bord Fáilte Annual Review 2000 and Outlook 2002 said.