Tourism benefits must be shared by all says councillor

Independent councillor Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig has called for engagement between the various bodies involved in developing tourism in Donegal and the local communities affected.

He was speaking as two important meetings get underway today on Arranmore and Tory Islands under the banner of Sustainable Destination Management for Island Tourism to investigate their potential in the tourism markets.

These are organised by the Atlantic Technological University and the Islands Research Project to measure the impact of tourism on the islands.

Cllr Mac Giolla Easbuig said tourist destinations such as west Donegal and its islands are increasingly coming across multiple social, economic, cultural, and environmental challenges corroborated with great urgency for sustainable development. 

He said he would encourage everyone on the islands to visit the consultation today and make their feelings known about the impacts tourism might have on their community.

"There is an important discussion to be had and what it means for any community, who benefits and who doesn't. Tourism has an environmental, social and economic impact.

"I have been promoting west Donegal, the islands, and the Gaeltacht for many years and will continue to do so but I strongly believe there has to be a discussion around all the aspects of tourism, both positive and negative.

"I have been involved in several projects including developing the railway track between Ailt a' Chorráin (Burtonport) and Letterkenny, the Blueway projects on the Donegal islands, the promotion of Annagry and other towns and villages as a branded foodie destination, and will continue to do so as long as the community benefits.

"We have seen communities across the country starting out with good intentions to bring economic benefits to small disadvantaged areas through tourism but unfortunately that turned very sour, very quickly with high prices for land, houses, water infrastructure, and increased costs of things like dining out and indeed day to day living expenses."

He added the problem was ordinary people on minimum wage didn't benefit from any tourism bonanza.

"The rising tourism tide needs to lift all boats. I'm sure Fáilte Ireland, Donegal County Council, Údarás na Gaeltacht, and the State genuinely believe tourism is a positive way forward and it can be but we have to discuss this with the community and not just the business class, on how it affects every community."

Cllr Mac Giolla Easbuig stressed not everyone benefitted from tourism yet it had the potential to affect everyone in many ways.

"There has been a big focus in the west on tourism being one of the main economic models on reviving a socio-economically deprived community but we need to look at that model. The vast majority of people working in the tourist industry are seasonal workers on the minimum wage.

"You cannot sustain a community when the majority are on the minimum wage because they can't afford mortgages, they can't afford to buy land to build homes and they certainly can't afford to put their children through college."

He added this applied right across Donegal.

"I would absolutely recognise the hard work people are doing to develop the tourist industry for all but we need to have the discussion on how it impacts that don't benefit from tourism.

"I would call on Fáilte Ireland, Donegal County Council, and other tourist promoters to engage meaningfully with the wider community, particularly the silent majority who need to see a long-term and sustainable project.

"A lot of tourism providers have moved to AirBnB and left a massive shortage of houses for long-term letting and while this is a fact of life it has created homelessness in the community. No houses are being built and as a result, there are shortages. Why are we not engaging with workers, the trade union movement, disability services, Age Action, or a whole host of other bodies who will be affected?

"What we need is a sustainable economic model for all this and I would urge the island communities to raise this today the all community groups and organisations to join in these discussions where they can," he says.