Tourism tax could offer Dublin holidaymakers free public transport
The introduction of a tourism tax for Dublin visitors could provide a dedicated funding stream for public services that holidaymakers can enjoy across the city.
The introduction of a new tourism team within Dublin City Council aims to deliver a framework that can align city, regional, and national strategies into one coherent whole. The newly assigned Head of Tourism Susan Cooney spoke to representatives about their key goals at the latest Economic Development and Enterprise SPC.
One major topic of conversation was the potential of a tourism tax , which Fianna Fail Councillor Rory Hogan highlighted has been proposed on various occasions. Tourism taxes are common in different countries across Europe, Asia, and the United States, and can help fund all the things visitors rely on during their trip, such as public transport, street cleaning, and bin collections.
Executive Manager Mary Mac Sweeney stated that their engagement with businesses does show “resistance to any additional costs,” but that studies indicate locations that regions that have introduced these taxes have noticed a positive impact. She stated there is a “strong need for dedicated additional funding” for tourism services and that when surveying Dublin citizens there was support for the introduction of such a tax.
Green Party Councillor Ray Cunningham suggested that public transport could be tied into a potential tourism tax, where visitors could be given a Leap Card-style pass to travel around the city for free during their stay. This would not only align with the council's Active Travel goals , but would encourage tourists to expand their visit beyond the city centre.
While an integrated ticketing system for public transport to replace Leap Cards is already being worked on, Ms Mac Sweeney stated if they were to waive transport costs for tourists they would need to be sure there is an income stream to support it. “Other cities have done it well for large scale events,” she said, but stressed they must get the "balance between locals and visitors right” and it’s important that locals don’t question why “that’s not available to us.”
Ms Cooney explained that her tourism team’s implementation plan must align with all the different strategies across the full spectrum of the council’s remit. This includes coinciding with the Dublin City Development Plan, National Tourism Policy, Dublin Brand Strategy and many more.
With tourism being a central pillar to Dublin’s economy and city life, the recent shift of the Tourism Department into the category of economic development signals an acknowledgment of just how much this industry drives “the engine of the city.” One in 10 jobs in Dublin relate to the tourism industry, and Ms Cooney, along with Tourism Innovation Manager Nollaig Fahy and Tourism Strategy Manager Regina Dunne, has honed in on three goals to deliver.
These are ensuring a people-centred and community approach, sustainable actions that align with climate goals, and innovative, future-facing measures. Ms Cooney said the tourism plan is not just about international visitors but also national tourism as well as for the people who live and work in Dublin.
She aims to diversify the tourism season and address the drop off of visitors during the winter months. Reports show tourism is often down by around 30% during January and February and initiatives can be put in place to ensure the city is a prime destination year round.
Green Party Cllr Donna Cooney stated that to diversify also means spreading “outside the canals” and prompting all that Dublin has to offer outside of the city centre. As a Clontarf representative, Cllr Cooney pointed out the coastal cycle trail, greenways, and lots to do in terms of water sports in her area, which should also play a role in any tourism promotion plans.
Even within the city, Cllr Cooney explained there are so many free cultural activities and museums that tourists aren’t always aware of. From the modern art museum IMMA to the Hugh Lane Gallery, she said in places like Paris and London tourists are queuing to pay for these kinds of experiences, and something like a “cultural card” to point out free activities could inform tourists who are looking for more than “pubs and traditional music.”
Cllr Cooney mentioned a recent council presentation of ‘ Art in Parks ’ across Dublin, which highlighted the various sculptures that can be found in places like Merrion Square and St Anne’s Park. “People could travel around and mark them off on a card,” she said, highlighting a more sustainable type of tourism that taps into Dublin's often underappreciated offerings.
Head of Tourism Ms Cooney said these kinds of suggestions are totally inline with what her team are trying to achieve, and they are actively collaborating with stakeholders like Failte Ireland and Dublin Trails to show that the experience of the city isn’t only “in the pubs.”
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