Una Mullally: The 9% VAT battle is lost, but here are 4 ideas to help save the hospitality industry

  • 📰 IrishTimes
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 51 sec. here
  • 9 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 48%
  • Publisher: 98%

Una-Mullally News

Restaurant,Tourism,Culture-Night

If we don’t do something, in Dublin especially, generic international chains and brands will fill the empty spaces

Davy Byrnes bar and restaurant in Dublin, where Leopold Bloom, in James Joyce’s novel Ulysses, partook of a 'gorgonzola sandwich and a glass of Burgundy'. The State should propose the traditional Irish pub for inclusion on the Unesco list of intangible cultural heritage. Photograph: Ellius Grace/The New York Times

The upshot is that independent spots will continue to close. In Dublin especially, generic international chains and brands will fill the empty spaces. Elsewhere in Ireland, they might not fill at all. While lobbying has mobilised restaurateurs and cafe owners, the 9 per cent VAT campaign was not successful. Rising costs are a fundamental. But we also need new nationwide ideas that at least attempt to generate better conditions for independent restaurants to thrive.When you’re struggling to make ends meet, it’s hard to watch the Government throwing cash aroundListen | 39:50

For an initiative like this, it’s crucial that restaurants and cafes don’t end up overstretched or footing the bill in order to participate. At least two Government departments could help fund supports for this; tourism and culture, and enterprise. Do it in January when business is slowest. Provide free public transport nationwide. It doesn’t need to be a corny brand-fest, but something with integrity and character.

 

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will be published after being reviewed.
Please try again later.
We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

 /  🏆 3. in MY

Malaysia Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Malaysia Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Business is ‘very difficult’, says Charlie Chawke as rising interest charges and energy costs hit profits at three of his pubsCharlie Chawke says the 13.5 per cent Vat rate is a ‘killer’ for hospitality businesses
Source: IrishTimes - 🏆 3. / 98 Read more »