Ireland wants one million extra tourists every year. The Government’s new tourism strategy promises a foodie revolution, year-round stays, and a far better regional spread of visitors. But the reality on the ground tells a different story: visitor spending has slipped, prices have soared, and many travellers say the céad míle fáilte now comes with luxury-hotel pricing. 

On today’s podcast, Tara Duggan asks if Ireland is truly offering value, or whether high prices, seasonal closures and hotel shortages are turning visitors away. Sunday Times food critic Russell Alford, who’s had to move his own wedding date because of hotel price-gouging, joins Irish Examiner travel editor Jillian Bolger to take an honest look at the visitor experience. They explore whether our food scene is as strong as the hype, why menus outside the cities can feel stuck on repeat, whether rural Ireland can ever deliver year-round tourism, and whether we actually have enough hotel rooms to support the growth the Government is promising. 

There are big ambitions for Ireland to become one of Europe’s great “foodie destinations.” The question is whether the value, the offering — and the welcome — can match that ambition. 

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