It’s claimed it’s crucial that the Cliffs of Moher’s growing profits are used to contribute to the growth of communities in North Clare.
Members of the board of the Cliffs have laid out plans for the future development of the iconic natural attraction, as well as taking stock of where things are currently at with it.
In 2019, some 1.6 million people visited the Cliffs of Moher in North Clare, cementing its place as the most visited natural attraction in the country.
This figure is up from the 927,000 that made the journey to the cliffs in 2007, marking a massive 72% increase in that 12-year period.
Additionally, every month last year saw a higher number of visitors than the corresponding month the previous year and with this trend expected to continue, Director of the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience Geraldine Enright says investment is key.
The Cliffs’ 20-year strategy will look at guiding the development of the Cliffs of Moher both in the long and short term, with a view to maximising their potential.
With increasing visitor numbers, many challenges are also presenting and the demand is said to exceed the current infrastructural capacity.
With this in mind, a number of initiatives are being pursued by the board while the report into the Cliffs is with consultants and Chair of the board Bobby Kerr says they will take a look at things like the shuttle bus introduced last summer.
With the wheels in motion on planning for the future now, a North Clare Councillor is issuing a call for the economic benefits of the Cliffs of Moher to be spread around the county.
Fianna Fáil’s Shane Talty, who is on the Cliffs of Moher board, says it’s important to ensure that the negative effects of having so many visitors coming to North Clare each year is offset by contributing back to the local communities.
