FIANNA FÁIL’S €10 travel tax turned Ireland into Europe’s biggest tourism loser in 2010, low-fares airline Ryanair has claimed, as it published new independent research showing that Ireland’s air traffic fell by more than that of any other European country.

The research, compiled by Anna.aero, cited Shannon Airport as being Europe’s “worst performing” airport in 2010, after its passenger numbers fell by 37 per cent compared to the numbers it carried in 2009.

On a country-by-country basis, Ireland’s air travel load had fallen by 13 per cent in 2010 – as one of only six countries that had seen its passenger numbers decline over the year.

The next worst performing country was Greece, which by comparison only saw its passenger numbers fall by 5 per cent.

Eight of the ten fastest growing airports increased their trade by cutting charges and dropping tourist taxes, which the airline said made them more attractive for its low-fares traffic.

“Ryanair advised the Fianna Fáil-led government two years ago that its €10 tourist tax and rubber-stamping price rises at the DAA monopoly airports would cause the collapse of Irish tourism,” airline spokesman Stephen McNamara said, adding that traffic in Dublin Airport had fallen by 21 per cent in two years.

Hopefully the next Government will see sense and cut airport charges, axe the tourist tax and introduce competing terminals at Dublin airport, while breaking-up the DAA monopoly, so that Irish tourism can compete and grow once more.

Ryanair has pledged to offer four million extra passengers to Ireland over the next five years if its wishes are enacted.

The travel-tax was lowered to a uniform €3 per flight in the last Budget.