Bringing sustainable tourism to life

LAST April, Trea Heapes was appointed to the role of animator by Loop Head Tourism, which primarily incorporates members from Kilkee, Carrigaholt and Killballyowen. The objective of the year-long role, which is funded by Leader, is to bring life to the sustainable tourism product in West Clare.

LAST April, Trea Heapes was appointed to the role of animator by Loop Head Tourism, which primarily incorporates members from Kilkee, Carrigaholt and Killballyowen. The objective of the year-long role, which is funded by Leader, is to bring life to the sustainable tourism product in West Clare.
“The work programme is for a year and included in that is to first of all do an audit and see what businesses we have in the Loop Head area. The next thing is to develop the ethos for Loop Head Tourism, to define our goals and objectives and then to start to get members in,” Trea explained.
“It all started with the winning of the European Destination of Excellence Award (EDEN) for Aquatic Tourism in 2010. From that we got a lot of focus and a lot of PR. We won it for the likes of having the dive centre in Kilkee, the dolphin watch in Carrigaholt, the sea angling and for the unspoilt beauty of the area. In our catchment area we also have a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a Special Protection Area,” Trea explained.
Poulnasherry Bay, Querrin Creek and Loop Head bird colonies are SPAs, while the lower Shannon area and the reefs in Kilkee are SACS.
Trea feels communities in the Loop Head region must work as a unit if they are to maximise the sustainable tourism market.
“All along we’ve been working on our own and doing things separately. Kilkee have been doing their thing, as have Carrigaholt, Kilbaha, Kilrush and Doonbeg. If you want to market a destination you have to get your stuff together. What we’ve been trying to do is increase the amount of activities available in the area and encourage more accommodation and encourage more people to network together,” Trea, who lives in Querrin and is from Kilkee, said.
Among the initiatives are the development of mapped and finger signed walks at the Cliff Walk in Kilkee, Kilcredaun in Carrigaholt and an 11km Loop Head circuit.
“There are over 20 landowners who have given permission for the Loop Head walk. They’ve been brilliant back there. It’s a cliff walk and is probably one of the best in the country in terms of a coastal walk. It takes you from Loop Head, down south as far as Horse Island, across the peninsula to Fodra and then up along. We’ve permission from every one back there. They’ve been amazing,” Trea stressed.
One word keeps cropping up in conversation with Trea. That key word is ‘sustainable’.
“What we’re about is sustainable tourism. It’s something that has to be positive for the local people and it has to support the local economy. You’re talking about promoting local food, local produce and encouraging local businesses to set up something to provide a local experience for visitors; so that somebody would sit with you in the pub, find out who you are and they’ll tell you about the place. There are particular tourists out there who want to know about the local heritage and the local culture. They’re not just coming here to take a few pictures and go away. That’s the beauty of it because they’ll stay for a few days and learn a bit about the place,” Trea said.
“Every business that’s involved in this will get training and the ethos will be to tell people for example about the waders down on Querrin shore and tell them about the flora and the fauna. What you’re doing with all that is you’re promoting and conserving the local environment. That’s another part of sustainable tourism; that the local environment doesn’t in any way get damaged. You keep the way of life and you protect the environment,” she stressed.
When Trea’s role ceases next April, she is hopeful the sustainable tourism industry in West Clare will be on a solid footing and that other possibilities, like introducing a Loop Head passport and perhaps a tour of World War II look-out posts in the area, will be up and running.
“Maybe Kilrush could be the gateway to Loop Head and Doonbeg has a five-star golf course, fishing and the dunes. But I think we have to get ourselves organised first. If you go too big it’s just impossible and you have too many different factors,” Trea reflected.
Loop Head Tourism will host a networking workshop on Tuesday, June 19 from 10am to 1pm. Details of the venue will be in next week’s Clare Champion.
The guest speaker will be Valere Tjolle, who is sustainable tourism editor with travelmole.com.