Scope of the Tourism Industry and its Employment Impact in Ireland

The vital role which tourism has been given within plans for national economic recovery in the Republic of Ireland is considered in this article. Its purpose is twofold: first, to review the current position of the tourism industry in Ireland in the context of current government expectations and, second, to report the findings of a recently published study by the State training agency for hotels, catering and tourism (CERT), of the scope, structure, employment profile and economic significance of the industry in Ireland. Conclusions are drawn about the industry's capacity to respond to growth expectations.