Dublin's tourism ranking slammed as working-class are 'priced out' of the city

Dublin has ranked fourth place among major cities on the Global Destination Sustainability (GDS) Index, but Sinn Féin Ciaran Ó Meachair says this fails to recognise how ordinary people are being "priced out" of their own communities

Add to preferred sources News Stephen Holland Local Democracy Reporter 18:17, 25 Sep 2026 View 2 Images People in Dublin city on Grafton Street (Image: Getty)

Celebrating Dublin for sustainable tourism is "bizarre" when considering how working-class communities are being cast aside according to one local councillor.

A new report from the Global Destination Sustainability (GDS) Index has placed Dublin in fourth place among major cities, and 17th across the entire world. With a score of 83.76, this ranking considers issues across destination management, social performance, supplier engagement, and environmental sustainability.

But Sinn Féin Ciaran Ó Meachair told Dublin Live that he thinks the findings are “ridiculous” as he’s witness working-class communities in the inner city being “squeezed out” by “immense pressure” from hotel developers, multinationals, and corporate interests. “To be honest, I think Dublin is an example of how things shouldn’t be done,” he said.

A press statement issued by Dublin City Council celebrated the index findings and how, working together with Fáilte Ireland and Dublin Convention Bureau, they are supporting tourism and encouraging a more resilient economy. The council said they are committed to the principles of sustainable tourism in a way that contributes positively to neighbourhoods and supports local businesses.

“Through policy leadership, climate action, transport planning, public realm improvements, biodiversity initiatives and community engagement, Dublin City Council provides the foundations upon which sustainable destination development can thrive,” a spokesperson for the council said.

View 2 Images Sinn Féin Councillor Ciarán Ó Meachair speaking on rent increases at the South Central Area Committee

Cllr Ó Meachair questioned the metrics of the index and expressed disappointment that negative impacts of prioritising tourism over local interests were not mentioned. “They like to give themselves a pat on the back and say ‘aren’t we fantastic?’ All fluffy, brilliant language that’s so far removed from reality,” he said.

The recent decision to approve a new aparthotel on Thomas Street in the Liberties was one example of the touristification of Dublin that Cllr Ó Meachair cited, stating that locals wished to put that site to community use and were denied the chance. He said the current attitude to tourism in Dublin is “unsustainable”.

One example of this is the cultural erosion of areas like the Liberties, which Cllr Ó Meachair has campaigned for consideration on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list . He believes this designation could protect areas of significance from the impact of an overabundance of hotels and student accommodation.

“The cultural fabric of the Liberties is one thing, but there’s also the housing crisis and how many Airbnbs are illegally operating in Dublin . These should be homes for ordinary people,” he said. “Dublin City Council are very badly equipped, they do not have the resources to tackle the sheer amount of illegal Airbnbs in the city.”

While tourism is an important part of the economy, Cllr Ó Meachair is calling for it to be promoted in a way that doesn’t result in ordinary people being “priced out” of their own communities. “You have tourists coming to the Liberties and buying overpriced cups of and doing tours of the Guinness Storehouse while staying in Airbnbs that were previously people’s homes, and tourists pay through the nose to stay in them,” he said.

“The current trajectory of things is that working-class inner city communities don’t have places to go because they can’t afford the local cafes - it’s all expensive. They can’t afford the pubs or the attractions which are primarily put in place for tourists.

“The Guinness Storehouse is not there for people from Dublin 8 to pop up and take a look. It’s for people from New York, Texas and California.”

One measure that has become a hot topic in recent years is the implementation of a tourist tax , which is a measure through which international visitors could help contribute to a sustainable society. Cllr Ó Meachair said Dublin is one of the last remaining major European cities without one and that it could address these concerns, as long the money is ringfenced appropriately.

“The money projected that could be raised by a tourist tax would far exceed the money the council are projecting to raise from the Dublin City Council rent hike . If you were to reverse the rent hike, you could plug that shortfall with the tourist tax,” he said.

“I think it’s crazy that Dublin is so late to game on it. It goes back to how unsustainable tourism has been in the city and the people making decisions don’t seem to realise it.”

This content is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme

Want to see more of the stories you love from Dublin Live? Making us your preferred source on Google means you’ll get more of our exclusives top stories and must-read content straight away. To add us as a preferred source, simply click here .