Host community perception of the Irish tourism industry and biosecurity

 Tourist vectoring of potential biosecurity threats can represent a substantial biosecurity risk for Ireland. Of particular concern for Ireland’s environment are the numbers of tourists participating in hiking/cross-country walking, angling, cycling, and water sports. This raises the prospect of significant damage to the environment within destinations from tourist vectoring. For example, with Ireland’s native white clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius Pallipes) at serious threat of 100% mortality, 20 vascular plants and 23 bryophytes critically endangered, there is a strong case for Ireland’s tourism industry to implement essential biosecurity protocols.