Pictured with PhD student Ernesto Sanchez (third from left) is Geraldine Enright, Director of Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience, Bobby Kerry, Chair of the Board of Cliffs of Moher; Jim Deegan, Professor of Tourism Policy and Director of the National Centre for Tourism Policy Studies (UL); Leonard Cleary, Director of Rural Development, Clare County Council; and Eoin Flanagan, Human Resource Manager, Cliffs of Moher Experience. Photograph: Eamon Ward.

VISITOR EXPERIENCE and sustainable tourism are among the focus points of a new PhD scholarship programme at the Cliffs of Moher.

Clare County Council has partnered with the University of Limerick (UL) to sponsor a new PhD Scholarship Programme at the Cliffs of Moher Experience.

Working with UL’s National Centre For Tourism Policy Studies (NCTPS) and The Kemmy Business School, Ireland’s most visited natural attraction this week welcomed the sponsored PhD student, Ernesto Sanchez as part of the tourism research project he will undertake over the next four years.

The structured PhD programme will focus challenges and opportunities of responding to a paradigm shift in the tourism marketplace, including visitor experience, sustainable tourism, destination and visitor management and the role of technology in shaping tourism.

Director of the Cliffs of Moher Experience, Geraldine Enright explained, “This programme represents an excellent opportunity to collaborate with the University of Limerick in generating important research that will help to define and shape the future of tourism in Clare”.

She added, “In addition to providing Ernesto a monetary sum to support his academic studies and research, the scholarship will present him with a unique opportunity to develop key relationships with other visitor attraction sites and tourism businesses within the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark and the wider county.”

Jim Deegan, Professor of Tourism Policy and Director of the National Centre for Tourism Policy Studies, commented, “Work undertaken by our Research Centre is constantly evolving to reflect new academic interests, market trends and policy problems. The leading market position held by the Cliffs of Moher Experience makes it an ideal case study for present and future tourism development in Ireland.”

Leonard Cleary, Director of Rural Development, Clare County Council, stated, “We are delighted to support Ernesto in his studies through this PhD Scholarship Programme. Tourism is emerging from a challenging period, and it is important that new challenges and opportunities for the sector are identified. The research output will aid ongoing efforts to maintain the Cliffs of Moher as Ireland’s foremost natural attraction, grow the Cliffs of Moher’s contribution to County Clare in a sustainable way and protect the site for future generations”.

It is anticipated that the PhD sponsorship programme will become part of an ongoing strategic partnership between Clare County Council and the University of Limerick.

Related News

court 1
Businessman urinated on wife and spat in her face
covid 19 face masks
Anti-vaccine activist tells judge 'I am not a person' as he faces trial for alleged assault of Clare Garda
short term long rentals chalk 1
Providers of short-term lets 'not responsible for the housing crisis'
diabetes
'Significant improvement' in waiting list for diabetes services
Latest News
clare v donegal 20-05-23 eoin cleary 2
Cleary not surprised with new leaders emerging in Clare football team
Shirley Brohan headshot
This week's tip for your garden with Blossoms on the Go
court 1
Businessman urinated on wife and spat in her face
covid 19 face masks
Anti-vaccine activist tells judge 'I am not a person' as he faces trial for alleged assault of Clare Garda
short term long rentals chalk 1
Providers of short-term lets 'not responsible for the housing crisis'
Premium
court 1
Businessman urinated on wife and spat in her face
covid 19 face masks
Anti-vaccine activist tells judge 'I am not a person' as he faces trial for alleged assault of Clare Garda
short term long rentals chalk 1
Providers of short-term lets 'not responsible for the housing crisis'
clare v offaly 18-02-24 emmet mcmahon 1
Clare sweat on results of McMahon's scan for knee injury
SONY DSC
Clare's derelict sites team working on bringing 250 derelict properties back into use

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Scroll to Top