*Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) said while some destinations such as the Cliffs of Moher were performing well more needed to be done to develop other areas.
CLARE has a “significant opportunity” to grow its staycation market as more people look for alternatives to traditional overseas holidays, according to a Clare councillor.
Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) made the call at the September meeting of Clare County Council, where he urged the Government to recognise the “significant opportunity” presented by changing European holiday patterns and invest in tourism infrastructure and public amenities.
His written motion called for a dedicated multi-annual funding package for Fáilte Ireland and local authorities to improve beaches, public spaces, walking and cycling routes, outdoor recreation, visitor facilities and family amenities.
Cllr Lynch also called for a strong national promotional campaign encouraging Irish families to “holiday at home and discover the quality and diversity of destinations available throughout Ireland”.
Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Lynch said changing holiday patterns due to increasingly frequent periods of extreme heat in traditional overseas destinations presented an opportunity for Ireland. “As Irish people, we are not used to the heat,” he said. He said there had been a rise in staycations following the Covid-19 pandemic and that there was an opportunity to build on this, particularly in Clare.
However, Cllr Lynch said the county was struggling to financially manage basic facilities, never mind investing in new ones. He said while some established tourist destinations were performing well, pointing to the Cliffs of Moher as an example, more needed to be done to develop other areas. Cllr Lynch said there was a need to keep people in Ireland rather than seeing them travel abroad and that tourism infrastructure needed to be refocused.
Cllr Mary Howard (FG), who seconded the motion said she had heard the term “coolcation” on the radio, referring to people travelling to mainland Europe in search of cooler temperatures.
Cllr Howard said Ireland needed to be promoted as a holiday destination, particularly given the international exposure generated by major sporting events. She pointed to the recent golf tournaments and Katie Taylor’s fight as opportunities to promote Ireland to a wider audience. “It’s a great opportunity to promote ourselves,” she said. Cllr Howard said Clare had a wide range of attractions and that “we have it all here in County Clare”.
Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) also supported the motion, pointing to the “vibrant” atmosphere in Lahinch and Doonbeg during the recent golf tournaments. “We have to keep people in the county,” he said. Cllr Garrihy also called for investment in campervan parks around the county, saying Clare needed to focus on keeping visitors in the county.
Cllr Antoinette Baker Bashua (FF) also backed the motion, saying the weather had been “phenomenal” and that Clare had fantastic attractions capable of attracting large numbers of visitors.
The motion called for the investment to have a particular focus on regional and rural destinations, with the economic benefits of increased domestic tourism retained within local communities and supporting local businesses, employment and the wider rural economy.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
