VISITOR numbers at the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Attraction increased by 8% during 2012, according to figures released on Wednesday.Visitor numbers hit 873,988 last year, representing an increase of almost 65,000 visitors on the overall figure for 2011. Most notably, there was a 17.7% increase in group visitors travelling to the site by coach.Overall, 52% of all visitors during 2012 were fully independent travellers (FITs), who travelled to the site by car, 44% arrived by coach, while the remainder (4%) were walkers or cyclists.North Clare hotelier and president of the Irish Hotel Federation, Michael Vaughan, welcomed the increase in group visitors to the attraction but said that unfortunately this is not having a ripple effect for other tourism businesses in the area.“There is not enough spin-off custom for other business in Clare from the coach visitors to the Cliffs. We have not done enough to make people stay within the county,” he said.“Part of that increase at the Cliffs of …

VISITOR numbers at the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Attraction increased by 8% during 2012, according to figures released on Wednesday.Visitor numbers hit 873,988 last year, representing an increase of almost 65,000 visitors on the overall figure for 2011. Most notably, there was a 17.7% increase in group visitors travelling to the site by coach.Overall, 52% of all visitors during 2012 were fully independent travellers (FITs), who travelled to the site by car, 44% arrived by coach, while the remainder (4%) were walkers or cyclists.North Clare hotelier and president of the Irish Hotel Federation, Michael Vaughan, welcomed the increase in group visitors to the attraction but said that unfortunately this is not having a ripple effect for other tourism businesses in the area.“There is not enough spin-off custom for other business in Clare from the coach visitors to the Cliffs. We have not done enough to make people stay within the county,” he said.“Part of that increase at the Cliffs of …

THERE are just 4,000 dogs licensed in Clare, just over 11% of the canine population in the county and if all dogs in the county were licensed, at a cost of €20 per dog, it would mean a boost of more than €600,000 for the operation of dog control services.

ONE in 10 commercial units in the county are vacant, according to a study undertaken in June, but the rate is much higher in Shannon (14%), while Ennis (11%) is also above this figure.

SHANNON Heritage’s day visitor attractions have seen an increase of 7% in numbers so far this year.

SHANNON Heritage, the tourism and heritage subsidiary of Shannon Development, recorded an increase of 5% in visitor numbers last year, according to the annual report.

THE number of buildings being constructed in Galway has plummeted by more than 30%, it was revealed this week.

THE extent of the collapse in construction has been illustrated by Kilrush Town Council figures showing that the amount of development contributions received in 2011 was over 98% down on the 2007 figure.