The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) has welcomed the government's new Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme, the enhanced COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, the inclusion of the self-employed in this scheme and the provision of enhanced protections for people facing difficulties with their mortgages.
The IHF has also welcomed the government's recognition of the role that hotels play in essential non-social and non-tourist services. IHF president Elaina Fitzgerald Kane said that the measures are essential to tackling the public health crisis as well as to providing necessary supports to those who have lost their jobs. However, she added that further sector specific measures will be required to ensure the recovery of tourism and other parts of the economy.
Welcome, But "Not Nearly Enough"
Fitzgerald Kane stated, "This announcement is very welcome, but it is not nearly enough to safeguard the future of the tourism sector.
"Current and future bookings vanished in a matter of days. Revenues plummeted by up to 100% across the sector with a catastrophic impact on cash flow. We are calling again on the government to reduce the rates of tourism VAT and employer's PRSI to zero until we see a recovery. In addition to our call for local authority rates to be waived, we are seeking direct business supports, including finance and marketing assistance. Let's not repeat the mistakes of the financial crisis - too many jobs depend on the right decisions being made at the right time now."
© 2020 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
