Sir, – Much has been said recently about introducing a tourist tax in Dublin. An imaginative scheme in Germany’s Black Forest suggests how such a levy might benefit visitors and residents.
We are staying at a campsite near Staufen, where we pay a modest tourist tax. In return, we receive a KONUS Guest Card, giving us free travel on local and regional public transport across much of the Black Forest. It covered our train journey to Freiburg, as well as the city’s trams and buses.
The scheme encourages visitors to leave their cars and motorhomes behind, reducing congestion and emissions. It also enables them to explore neighbouring towns and spend money in local shops, cafes and restaurants. A win-win for tourism and the local economy.
If Dublin introduces a visitor levy, tourists could receive a tangible benefit in return. A visitor card offering free or discounted travel on buses, Luas and Dart services would make the levy an investment in a greener and more welcoming city, rather than simply another charge.
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The debate should not only be about how much visitors pay, but also about what Ireland offers them in return. – Yours, etc,
MÁIRE NÍ BHRÓITHE,
Maynooth,
Co Kildare.
