.
THERE is still plenty of holiday accommodation available in Kerry according to a new survey carried out by the Kerry Tourism Industry Federation (KTIF).
In a bid to understand the impact Covid-19 is having on the hospitality industry in Kerry, KTIF members were asked to divulge their occupancy levels from July to October of this year. A total of 51 members in the tourism accommodation sector contributed to the survey over the past week.
While 6% of those surveyed have decided to remain closed for this season, the majority of Kerry’s accommodation providers including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, self-catering, caravan, camping and glamping sites are already open and welcoming guests.
Continued below…
.
However, despite government recommendations to holiday in Ireland this year, three quarters of members surveyed report that their occupancy levels are under 30% for the month of July.
August figures show a slight improvement with two thirds of members reporting occupancy levels at below 30%.
“This survey indicates that the staycation market is not yet materialising in Kerry. The majority of our members are less than a third full across July and August. There are of course exceptions, predominately among self-catering providers who are reporting relatively strong levels of business for July and August. Overall, however, unless there is a sharp rise in bookings this survey indicates that most of our members are facing into a tough few months,” says Kerry Tourism Industry Federation Chairman Pat O’Leary.
“While it’s bad news for the sector, it’s good news for the consumer,” says Mr O’Leary. “Low occupancy levels means there is still the opportunity to book your staycation in Kerry and avail of the tried and trusted tourism offering here. It also means that consumers can avail of competitive pricing and special offers by booking directly with the accommodation providers.”
