Sir, –The current travails of hospitality are well documented, but less so is the systematic failure within the State to support hospitality.
As tourism and hospitality are the largest indigenous industry in the State, should it not have a Department of Tourism and Hospitality?
Farming has a State agency in Teagasc, which actively funds applied research to generate efficiencies and economies in the farming sector.
Hospitality and tourism haves no such facility or research funding. The tourism State agencies do not accept responsibility for the wider hospitality area, defining their remit to tourism-related activities only.
It is time for a recalibration of State services to hospitality and tourism at Government level – 260,000 jobs depend on it. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL VAUGHAN,
Proprietor,
Lahinch,
Co Clare.