SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 

Washington, D.C. 20549
 


FORM 6-K
 


Report of Foreign Private Issuer
 


Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 


For the month of  October, 2009
 
 

RYANAIR HOLDINGS PLC
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
 
 

c/o Ryanair Ltd Corporate Head Office
Dublin Airport
County Dublin Ireland
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
 
 
Form 20-F..X.. Form 40-F.....
 
 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934.
 
 
Yes ..... No ..X..
 
 

If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________
 
 
 

CSO confirms slump in visitors since Irish Govt €10 tourist tax introduced

Ryanair calls on Govt to axe the €10 tourist tax


Ryanair, the World's favourite airline, today (15th Oct 09) welcomed the CSO traffic figures which confirm that 123,000 (13%) fewer visitors travelled to Ireland in August as the Govt's €10 tourist tax devastates Irish tourism, even during the summer peak. Ryanair's August traffic grew by 19%, over 1.1m new passengers, which disproves the Govt's false claim that this decline is due to the recession.
 

Passengers 

Aug '08 

Aug '09

Fall/Rise

CSO

   946K

   823K

  - 123K (- 13%) 

Ryanair

5,800K

6,900K

+1,100K (+19%)


Ryanair warned that unless the Irish Government's €10 tourist tax is scrapped, then the fall in Irish visitor numbers will worsen during winter, as more flights, routes and services are cut from the Government's high cost Dublin, Cork and Shannon Airports.
 
 Ryanair's Stephen McNamara said:
 

               "CSO figures show a 13% drop in visitor numbers in August and 11% for the year to date. The loss of 600,000 visitors so far this year confirms that the collapse in Irish
                 tourism is accelerating as the €10 tourist tax makes Ireland an uncompetitive tourist destination.  


 

              "In recent months the Belgian, Dutch, Greek and Spanish governments have all scrapped tourist taxes and/or reduced airport charges, in some cases to zero, in order to
                stimulate tourism. Ryanair has expanded in these countries including our recent announcement of 43 new routes to/from Spain this winter.  The Irish Government
                cannot grow Irish tourism by taxing it.  We must axe this stupid €10 tourist tax and start welcoming visitors, not taxing them".

Ends.                                                                 Thursday, 15th October 2009
 
 

For further information

Please contact:            

Stephen McNamara                                        Pauline McAlester

Ryanair Ltd                                                     Murray Consultants

Tel: +353-1-8121271                                       Tel. +353-1-4980300
 

 

 

SIGNATURES
 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
 
 

 

RYANAIR HOLDINGS PLC






Date:  15 October 2009 
 

 

By:___/s/ Juliusz Komorek____
   
 

Juliusz Komorek
 

Company Secretary