Clare County Council aims to support local tourism with its new initiative, guided by the tourism advisory forum.
The council has taken over seven properties originally part of the Shannon Group, transitioning from earlier management.
Siobhán McNulty, the new development officer, told the tourism industry at the Tourism Together conference held at the Inn at Dromoland that the focus will be on increasing visibility for local businesses and attractions through platforms like Visit Clare.
The goal is to encourage longer stays and increased spending by visitors, showcasing Clare’s diverse offerings, including the Cliffs of Moher and local caves.
Ms McNulty is the full time council officer dedicated to tourism, unusual if not unique among the 31 local authioities in the 26 counties.
Clare has launched a promotional campaign, The Clare Collection., and asked by moderator Eoghan Corry if Clare council’s seven tourism properties would be in competition with Clare tourism’s private partners Ms Mc Nulty said it was an initative of the tourism advisory forum.”We are here to support and hear the voice of the industry,” she told the 300 delegates in the room.
Ultimately, for tourism endeavors to succeed, it’s essential to have the right tours and products. County councils often find it challenging to lead initiatives in this area. In the context of tourism, it’s crucial to maintain a portfolio of products that highlight the businesses and attractions within the county.
This year marks a significant turn as we manage seven properties that were part of the Shannon group, which were initiated during Brendan O’Regan’s tenure and transitioned to Clare due to proactive leadership. Now, the responsibility rests with Clare County Council. This poses a unique challenge, as councils are typically not structured to operate tourist attractions effectively.
We’ve learned a great deal about managing attractions, and our team has a solid foundation of experience to draw from. This knowledge has been applied to enhance the seven sites we oversee, allowing us to move forward collaboratively.
There’s an important question regarding competition with the private sector. Our website clearly outlines the portfolio of attractions under Clare County’s development framework, promoting all entities in the area. We strive to bring visibility to local businesses through our Visit Clare website, which showcases attractions and promotes a unified effort to market the county.
Our goal is to encourage visitors to stay longer and spend more within Clare County, experiencing all it has to offer. As someone who was born and raised in this area, I take immense pride in promoting everything our county has to offer. At all times, Clare County Council serves as a vehicle for sustaining and enhancing the appeal of our community.
I would like to achieve greater recognition of the value of the tourism product to the county. It’s important for everyone to understand that tourism sustains local employment and families, and that the value of these attractions matters to the county. Whether we’re discussing council assets or new attractions, such as the caves, the significance of these assets often goes unrecognized.
Many individuals may not realize that our county’s appeal, which attracts visitors, is a significant draw. Other counties would greatly desire the unique offerings we have here, including the renowned Cliffs of Moher. Clare’s attractions are substantial, and it’s crucial that we acknowledge them.
