Ireland’s thriving tourism industry will be put under increasing pressure if Dublin Airport is not updated sufficiently, experts have claimed.
Speaking on behalf of IDA Ireland – the Irish government agency responsible for securing new investment for the country – chief executive Sean Dorgan warned that Ireland’s growth as a tourist hotspot will be inhibited by a failure to invest in the airport.
At a key conference on the subject he pointed out that the airport does not have the facilities to cope with current levels of demand. This is leading to excessive queues and substandard services, thus damaging the first impressions that overseas visitors have of the city and the country.
To ensure that the airport is able to cater for rising demand, Dorgan called for the complete support of stakeholders and also asked for the cooperation of airlines based there.
Particularly problematic, he argued, is the fact that visitors are sometimes forced to wait for unreasonable lengths of time at passport control.
David O’Connor, director of planning at Fingal County Council, told delegates at the conference that the airport is expecting 20 million passengers in 2006 and that 38 million passengers could pass through by 2025.
Councillor Ciaran Byrne of the Fingal Development Board added: “It is of utmost importance for Ireland’s continued competitive advantage that we mange and develop this asset in a way that can cope and grow.”
