OPINION: New rule at Dublin Zoo is just another example of rip-off Ireland

Dublin Zoo has recently changes it's exit layout which has forced visitors to leave through the gift shop.

As reported in The Journal this week, parents are less than happy with the new change, unsurprisingly, as going in to a gift shop, or any toy shop for that matter with a child, can sometimes be overwhelming, unnecessarily stressful and can often leave your wallet feeling a lot lighter.

Parents who have visited the zoo recently have said the changes in the exit strategy were an obvious ploy to get people to part with even more money after a full day of walking over 50 acres to enjoy one of Ireland's top tourist attractions.

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The real question here is; is it any surprise?

We are all well in the trenches of the cost-of-living crises but tourist attractions, staycations, and days out on our fair Ireland certainly do not reflect that plight. Of course you can argue, it's the summer and tourists will be flocking to our shores so naturally prices will be on the rise, but is it fair?

Speaking to The Journal on the somewhat sneaky rearrangement of the zoo's exit, one woman hit the nail on the head saying, 

"It puts parents in a position of having to deal with potential demands and tantrums."

Now you might be one of these people who say "no means no" or "I wouldn't let my child dictate to me" when it comes to them wanting/demanding something that you're not willing, or can't particularly afford to get them after shelling out for transport to the zoo, the tickets, the food and drinks that come part and parcel on a family day out. And in theory I would agree, but no one knows more than a parent that when a child is in full meltdown mode you have two options; get them the thing they want or drag them out kicking and screaming. 

Neither option is a winner by the way, but when you've walked up and down a zoo for the day catering for your children's every need and hoping they won't have a "bad day" and that everyone will get on without tears or fights (which is rare) the last thing you want is to end the day having to pay an extortionate amount of money on a stuffed animal they are probably going to discard into the corner as soon as they get home. 

This is just another example of rip-off Ireland. Another entity gouging money from the public because who's going to stop them? Hotels have been doing it for years. Offering rooms at insane prices for one night that could see you flying to another country and staying for 2 nights for the same price, but nothing is ever done about it.

I'm lucky in the sense that I have one child, young enough to be distracted when he wants something in a shop and gullible enough to believe when I say that we can buy things "the next day", but that won't last for long. I really think what Dublin Zoo have done is slightly shameful, are they not getting enough money?

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According to The Journal, 1,161,937 people visited the zoo in 2023, which was the last year visiting figures were made publicly available.

The Zoological Society of Ireland, which runs Dublin Zoo and Fota Wildlife Park in Cork, had a combined income of €25.1 million in 2023 and on top of that, its annual report recorded a surplus of €131,000.

Of course, one would hope, a lot of that money goes towards the welfare of the animals and the upkeep of enclosures and attractions etc. but families are already shelling out for the day itself and should be well within their rights to enter the gift shop or not.

Typically, it costs roughly €80 for a family of four to gain access to the zoo, add that to the aforementioned petrol/transport/ food and drink and that may be all the family can afford to do this month. This unnecessary pressure for families to spend more just as they're about to walk out the door has certainly left a bad impression.

I was recently on a staycation in Galway with some family members for a few nights and we decided to take the ferry and spend the day on Inish Mór. Between the four adults and one older child, it cost us in or around €150 for the 40 minute return ferry. Once on the island we were almost rushed by taxi/minibus/private bus drivers who were all telling us they were the best price to bring us around the island, when in fact they were all the same price. 

We weren't sure whether we wanted to bike around, walk or take one of these lifts but we were left with no time to decide as one of the bus drivers stood in the middle of us with his outstretched map and proceeded to talk over us about what attractions we would see, how long we would get and that he was doing us a great deal. In the end we went with the deal he gave; €25 for each adult and the two kids went free. Too much in my opinion but we all collectively agreed that this was our only day on the island and to just go with it.

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While on the other side of the island we came across food trucks selling the now very trendy and very popular lobster rolls for €20 each, which of course we bought, alongside fish and chips for another €20. The sad part is, is that this is what we have come to accept in Ireland, unless you bring your own packed lunch you will be forced to pay through the nose for sub-standard food (although to be fair, I would pay €20 for that lobster roll again).

While we may be used to it, I do feel sorry on tourists that come here hoping to find the old traditional Ireland, the stone walls. the smell of turf and the tiny old women that spend their days baking soda bread in their thatch cottages.

Yes, those places still exist, you'll just have to pay €100 to see them.