Labour Tourism Forum discusses ways to develop tourism in Clare
Issued : Friday 7 May, 2010
LW and Clare Labour with Mary Upton TD have summarised the findings of the recent Clare Tourism Forum held in Ennistymon.
The recent forum on Tourism hosted by Clare Labour and Labour Women in the Falls Hotel in Ennistymon heard calls for protecting Shannon airport and developing 'Brand Clare' as key tools to boost tourism in the county. Keynote speaker Mary Upton TD, Labour's Spokesperson for Tourism, Culture and Sport emphasized the importance of marketing.
Ally Carr representing Clare Labour said: "Shannon Airport is the gateway to Clare and the Mid West. With a 'Brand Clare' identity developed we can sell the county as a destination, rather than just promoting individual sites. This is the key message this Forum on Tourism put forward."
Fáilte Ireland's statistics show a 27% drop in visitors last year to the Mid-West. Mary Upton TD, Labour Party spokesperson on Tourism visited Clare in response to the concerns raised in the county.
Deputy Upton said: "A number of important issues and problems were highlighted at this forum. Issues discussed included bad signage, poor access to broadband, the fact that over 65's free travel does not apply to buses, and the difficulty and delay for non-EU visitors getting visas. These are all barriers, but none of these is impossible to overcome. What is more concerning is that overseas visits to Ireland continue to decline - down 24% in February 2010 compared to 2009.
"I was delighted to see the determination on the part of the providers attending at the consultation meeting, who represented many diverse products of tourism. Labour is taking the ideas from this Tourism Forum forward as we are currently finalising our policy on Tourism. Clare artists, musicians, hoteliers and restaurateurs, local growers, special interest holidays and the ELT sector are all committed to Clare Tourism.
"Labour places Tourism high on the list of priorities. We have areas in Ireland where people depend on tourism, and cannot survive without a healthy number of visitors. Finding ways to keep the overseas visitors coming and boosting domestic tourism is necessary to keep people in viable businesses. Politically, Tourism has to be a headline business rather than a sideline business."
The improvement of scheduled flights servicing Shannon Airport suggested that the airport should continue in public ownership, but should be handed over to Shannon Development to manage the market. Shannon Development played a crucial role in the building up of the mid west region as a tourist destination and the airport is a key factor in the previous success of this region, the Forum heard.
"The 'grey euro', marketing Clare through the new technologies, being a user-friendly county, controlling local planning to avoid spoilt scenery, cleanliness, opportunities in ecotourism and the niche markets such as cycling, cliff walks and food festivals are all part of the 'Brand Clare' we can promote. With attractions such as Bunratty, Cliffs of Moher, Lahinch surfing and the Burren we already have strong selling points," stated Ally Carr, Clare Labour
Katherine Dunne, Labour Women Chair said: "The startling figures expose the crisis in tourism in Clare. The vast amount of workers employed in this sector are women, and yet Clare has the worst record of women represented in politics in the country at present."
Deputy Utpon said: "The Labour Party is committed to Tourism and we are committed to Clare. I am pleased that the party has experienced renewed growth in the county over the past 18 months as people reject the failed policies of this Government and search for a genuine alternative for Ireland, not just a changing of faces. I look forward to Clare returning a Labour Deputy after the next election."
ENDS.
Contact: MARY UPTON TD at 087 245 6968
ALLY CARR, CLARE LABOUR at 087 662 4003
KATHERIHNE DUNNE, LABOUR WOMEN CHAIR at 085 122 4055
NOTE TO EDITORS:
Attached links to photos & captions
PHOTO 1:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/labourparty/4557056535/sizes/m/
Mary Upton TD (left), Katherine Dunne LW Chair, Catherine Webster Director Cliffs of Moher, Mary Flynn Labour Women, Ally Carr Clare Labour, Labour supporter, Seamus Ryan Clare Labour.
PHOTO 2:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/labourparty/4557010007/sizes/m/
Katherine Dunne LW Chair (left) , Mary Upton TD, Ally Carr Clare Labour
