2017 has been hailed as a generally strong year for tourism in Clare, although there is room for improvement.
That’s the message from operators throughout the county following a year which saw significant growth in visitor numbers in some parts, but rain throughout.
With the tourism season now largely finished for 2017, a number of prominent local operators today spoke with Clare FM’s Morning Focus to examine what has been described as another mainly positive year.
The Cliffs of Moher hit the one millionth visitor for the fourth year in a row, while there was a sixth consecutive year of growth at Loop Head Lighthouse.
But Kilkee was dealt a serious blow in July when an electrical fault at a pumping station saw wastewater pumped into the sea – which led to a swimming ban for a number of days at the height of the season.
The chairperson of East Clare Tourism says some areas there did well this year, but that wasn’t the case everywhere.
However, there are hopes of a major influx of visitors following the development of Holy Island and Mike Hogan hopes they can use local amenities to keep those visitors in the area.
Already, attentions are turning to 2018, particularly among hotelliers who are looking to guard the sector’s 9% Tourism VAT Rate.
That has been the subject of pre-Budget speculation but John Burke, who has hotels in Doolin and Spanish Point, believes the lower rate must be protected to allow the industry continue to flourish:
