PLANS have been announced to cut rates for tourism businesses in Limerick city and county if business owners pay their full rates on time.
Members of Limerick City and County Council heard that 420,000 visitors came to Limerick in 2013, generating revenue of €135 million.
Under the new scheme, 92 businesses which have commercial rate bills of more than €10,000 would have 4.5 per cent of that bill paid for them by the local authority.
Businesses which qualify include pubs, restaurants, hotels, cafes and certain pubs and shops.
Head of Finance with the council, Tom Gilligan, told the members that any arrears in rates which are paid will qualify for the same support but applicants for the scheme must have the current rates and any arrears paid in full by November 31 2015.
Asking for the members approval, he told this week’s meeting of the council that “tourism plays a vital role and is a main contributor to Limerick’s economic development”.
Independent councillor, Emmett O’Brien, said that while such a scheme is welcome, “420,000 people came to Limerick as tourists but less than one-quarter of the people who land at Shannon airport are coming to Limerick. We’re missing an opportunity. We have some of the finest landscapes in the country here but we seem to be missing (promoting)Limerick as a brand”.
Paul Keller (AAA) said that the council “should approach the airport to discuss what we can do…we need to publicise what there is to do and places to visit”
