Dramatic drop in Cliffs visitors

NUMBERS visiting the Cliffs of Moher have dipped dramatically in the last three years but it will be close to break-even in 2011, Clare County Council’s annual budget meeting heard.

Declining numbers of visitors, coupled with the high cost of loan repayments, have posed a problem but director of services, Ger Dollard, said losses aren’t set to be too severe next year.
“There are loan charges of €1.1 million next year but we are coming very close to covering both the charges and the operating costs,” he explained.
In the budget document, it states, “The budget for the Cliffs of Moher is again provided on the basis of self financing in 2011. It therefore does not impact on the revenue budget. Loan charges of circa €1.1m arise in 2011.
“A very strong focus on costs has been in place at the Cliffs of Moher during 2009 and 2010. Visitor numbers continue on a downward trend, with a 6% reduction on 2009 and 24% on 2007 levels.”