The significant rise in transport and hospitality costs are damaging Northern Ireland’s tourism industry, according to the country’s Conservative party.

The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI), which shows that prices for restaurants, hotels and transport have increased substantially in recent years. Since 2007, prices in the hospitality industry have gone up 21 per cent and transport costs have risen by 24 per cent in Northern Ireland. By contrast, figures for the Republic of Ireland have seen an increase of 0.5 per cent for hotels and restaurants and 5.3 per cent for transport.

Commenting on the CPI, NI Conservatives’ economy spokesman Johnny Andrews, said that more needs to be done in order to entice visitors to Northern Ireland.

“The problems facing the tourism industry are clearly obvious,” said Andrews. “Currently it is substantially more expensive for people to fly to Belfast rather than to fly into Dublin.

“Tourism can be the key to Northern ireland’s economy and the industry cannot be expected to operate with one hand behind its back.”