*Bobby Kerr, Chairman of the Board, Cliffs of Moher Ltd, Leonard Cleary, Director of Rural Development, Clare County Council and Geraldine Enright, Marketing Manager, Cliffs of Moher centre.
Photograph by Eamon Ward.
A new shuttle bus service has been launched by the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience aimed at further enhancing sustainable development and management of tourism across the wider North Clare area.
Operating eight times daily during June, July and August, the Cliffs of Moher shuttle provides direct services between Ennistymon, Lahinch, Liscannor, Doolin, Lisdoonvarna and the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience and Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk. Shuttle Tickets may be purchased online at www.cliffsofmoher.ie where a full timetable of scheduled services is also available.
Bobby Kerr, Chair of the Board of Cliffs of Moher Ltd., says the new service has been introduced to encourage visitors to the Cliffs of Moher stay longer in the county, reduce the environmental impact of tourism traffic on the county’s roads and to spread the economic benefits associated with the more than 1.5 million people who visit the Cliffs of Moher each year.
Pat Dowling, Chief Executive of Clare County Council, commented, “The Cliffs of Moher Shuttle is a fantastic new service serving visitors and walkers staying in the surrounding towns and villages with 8 departures daily walkers can enjoy the outdoors for longer without their cars.”
Mr. Dowling noted that the new bus shuttle service is among a series of initiatives introduced at the world famous visitor attraction to reduce traffic congestion and to distribute the spend of visitors to the Cliffs to the neighbouring towns and villages.
No new licences have been issued by the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience without the applying tour operator providing evidence that their visit will also include an overnight stay or visit to another attraction or hospitality provider in Clare. Furthermore, dynamic pricing has been introduced for coach operators which offers reduced admission rates during off-peak periods to encourage operators to overnight in Clare, while trade rates are offered to local accommodation providers to include admission to the Cliffs of Moher in their packages.
Meanwhile, the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience has this month published tenders for consultants to prepare a strategic overview and make recommendations which will create a truly memorable visitor experience, secure the sustainable delivery of the Cliffs of Moher and the North Clare area as a major international visitor destination, while benefiting the regional economy and respecting the environment.
Leonard Cleary, Director of Rural Development, Clare County Council, stated, “The Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience is committed to working with all other agencies in further developing a truly sustainable tourism destination that gives direct benefits to the local community.”
He added, “The Strategic Review will inform the sustainable development and management of tourism across the wider North Clare area, and will take account of the needs of the local residents, local tourism businesses, business interests generally, visitors, and the environment. It will seek to share locally the benefits from significant visitor numbers, while mitigating the negative impacts. The subject area stretches south and east to Lahinch and Ennistymon, north to Doolin, and northwest to Lisdoonvarna.”
The Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience is operated by Clare County Council and employs 110 staff during the peak season and is a significant employer in North Clare. Additionally, more than 50 staff employed by tenant companies are supported at the site. Visitor numbers at the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience in County Clare increased by 3.8% to 1,580,010 last year. Significantly, the visitor figures reveal that the Fully Independent Traveller (FIT) market showed greater growth than the group market with 55% of all visitors being FITs (862,226 – up 42,103 on 2017). Projected visitor numbers for 2019 are on a par with last year’s final figure.
