A chara, – Conor Pope’s article “My summer of Irish Staycations cost nearly €10,000” (September 1st) unintentionally and ironically clarifies a real crisis in Irish rural tourism.
For their main holiday the Popes eschew hotels, B&B, and other registered accommodation providers for an unserviced property (€4,000 in rent into the pocket of the property owner). Rather than eat out, they shop at large superstores – so minimum contribution to low-paid workers and providers. Wetsuits are bought and so brought so no contribution to local watersports businesses who would happily provide a properly-sized rental at a low cost.
So basically, the Popes came to “consume” a beautiful part of Ireland, barely contributing to the local economy, but adding to its waste, pollution, and congestion.
Rural Ireland is beautiful, but the infrastructure of our rural communities depends on a contract whereby the visitors’ impact is positive.
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Right now, “staycations” involve huge pressure on local utilities, amenities, expectation of litter-free areas, gratis toilet facilities, clean beaches, good cafes and restaurants, guides and supervisors, and friendly charming staff willing to produce the best in hospitality and comfort on low wages and in a short season. But at the same time, rather than invest in the people and the communities that make this happen, people behave like the Popes, and spend lots of money in every ill-judged way possible.
Whether the Popes spent €200, €2,000 or €20,000 isn’t the point: it is about how much of that spend actually trickles down to the people who live and work and sustain these beautiful places.
Unfortunately, the Pope- spend is a masterclass in thoughtless, short-term, unsustainable mé féin thinking, with the final door-slam of a negative review, provocatively titled to imply this is somehow the fault of the providers.
– Yours, etc,
Dr NIAMH HAMILL,
Bundoran,
Co Donegal.