HOTELIERS REGRET FREE RAIL SCHEME BEING CUT

Golden Trekker Cut puts Ireland at Competitive Disadvantage, Says IHF

8th June 2011

The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) today expressed its disappointment at the decision by the Government to cease the free rail scheme for older overseas visitors. The Golden Trekker free rail travel scheme targeting senior citizens visiting Ireland from abroad provided a significant marketing and positive message platform for Irish tourism the IHF states, and cutting it goes against the national drive to increase visitor numbers to Ireland. 

“We’re calling on Minister Varadkar to revisit the decision to cut the scheme.  While there are other welcome low cost initiatives in place, such as low cost family tickets and senior specials, we regret that Golden Trekker in its current form is not being continued given that it doesn’t cost money to have an overseas tourist fill an already empty seat on a train,” states Paul Gallagher, President of the IHF. “The Golden Trekker scheme takes advantage of only a tiny portion of the substantial excess capacity available on rail services across the country at little or no cost to the company.”

“As a significant part of the tourism infrastructure, it is extremely disappointing that one of the State’s transport agencies Irish Rail does not see the bigger picture of what tourism revenue can provide to the overall economy.   It should be working with tourism bodies at a time when falling overseas visitor numbers are having a devastating impact on Irish tourism. With annual subsidies of €320 million being provided to CIE from the exchequer, it makes sense that any additional spare capacity on Irish Rail would be put to work to attract older visitors to the country. These potential overseas visitors have the time and inclination to travel.”

Mr Gallagher states that the scheme gives Ireland a much-needed competitive advantage when marketing the county abroad and provides a significant enticement to senior citizens who may be considering Ireland as a destination to visit in the future.

“This remains a largely untapped market with 9.5 million people over the age of 66 in the UK alone and a further 80 million people across the EU. People in this age demographic are increasingly seeking overseas destinations of interest to visit. The onus is on all tourism interests, including Irish Rail, to work together to win a larger share of this market,” adds Mr Gallagher.

ENDS

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