A prominent Clare restaurateur believes ‘third party sites’ are causing price discrepencies in the county’s tourism sector.
It’s after new research has found that hotels, car rentals and tours can have different prices when quoting from within Ireland, the UK or US.
New data revealed this week that one apartment in the capital was 476 euro more to book from the US than it is for an Irish customer, on a third-party site.
In some cases, it’s more expensive for customers in the US or the UK, but consumers in Ireland can also get charged more.
It’s led to concerns from Tourism Ireland and the Consumers Association of Ireland among others that the discrepencies could ultimately damage the country’s tourism industry.
However, one prominent Clare restaurateur believes it’s third party sites causing the issue.
Maurice Walsh of Durty Nellys in Bunratty, who’s also Vice Chair of Clare’s Tourism Advisory Forum, says dealing with outlets directly is the best way to book.
A Shannon hotelier meanwhile insists there is better value for money to be found on the West coast compared to the East of the country.
Dermot Kelly of the Shannon Springs Hotel says tourists are even changing their plans while in the country to stay closer to Clare for longer.
