THE Government’s €7 billion July Stimulus Package, aimed at kickstarting the troubled Irish economy, could not come quick enough this week for the ailing equine tourism sector.
Thousands of small equine businesses nationwide are struggling to make ends meet but none more so than those reliant on the seasonal equine tourism business which has taken a huge hit this year.
Overseas tourist numbers are down over 90% due to the coronavirus pandemic, leaving a massive hole which operators must now try to somehow fill with domestic ‘staycation’ tourism.
Equine tourism business operators this week outlined to The Irish Field the dire situation the industry is in and called for a raft of financial aid measures to be made available urgently.
Cáit Goaley of Connemara Equestrian Escapes, Co Galway, lost 100% of her American business and is now focusing all her efforts into the Irish market, aiming to just stay afloat for 2020.
Laura Tangney of Killarney Jaunting Car and Watercoach Tours – a business that has been on the go for 220 years – echoed that, calling for ‘survival aid’ to see operators through these unprecedented times.
“We need grants and help, not loans. I don’t need and can’t afford another loan. I’m a bit disappointed at how the industry is being assisted. Hotels fill their rooms with overseas tourists. I fill our jaunting cars with overseas tourists. The tourism industry as a whole needs urgent help. I’m open three weeks now since lockdown and running at a loss every week.
“I know our Government had a lot on their plate with coronavirus. At this stage, it’s survival aid we need, come wintertime it will be hungry times for a lot of businesses. We still have the same costs – feed, licences, vets, farriers, dentistry – for our 50 horses, most of them we bred and know from babies. Our costs are the same but our revenue is only 10% of what it was.
“We are very lucky with the product we have in Killarney, it’s on every tour operators agenda and that’s half the battle. As a destination, we are in a good place. That’s our strength. It’s a waiting game. A lot will go to the wall this winter. We need our Government to stand up for us, I want this business to be able to go on to the next generation, we have hands to take it over.
“Foot and Mouth affected us, the recession hit too but this is worse. We have the screens up, special ones you can take pictures through, we have the sanitisers on board. We are open for business and hope that staycationers will come,” said Laura.
Daragh O’Neill of Abbeyfields Farm, Clane, Co Kildare, said the lockdown initially wiped out 60% of their equestrian business in the outdoor pursuits centre with the 40% livery side holding its own.
“We thankfully were back up and running very quickly. We lost the business we got from hotels but we have never been busier with the riding side. We have seen a big change there and the pony camps are also doing very well.
“Equine businesses need to get as much support as possible now. Plenty of riding schools are in trouble, some have closed down. We are getting calls with people looking for lessons.
“We do ride-outs on our own land but we need the riding schools operating otherwise our industry is going to be in trouble in the future. Insurance is also a very big issue, two big underwriters are gone out of the business which isn’t helping.”
'I had to totally reinvent my wheels' - Cáit Goaley of Connemara Equestrian Escapes
The main stimulus measures outlined this week by the Government include:-