Free attractions to lure more visitors

Promote, promote, promote and do more for free.  That’s just one of the many suggestions floated by a members of the tourism industry as a means to attract more visitors to Clare.
The suggestion to allow free entry to more visitor attractions was included among the responses to the Clare Tourism Survey 2010, which was conducted and compiled by Fine Gael Deputy Pat Breen.
Another proposal was for the region to pay a retainer to an experienced professional, for example in Manchester, who would agree as part of a deal to promote Shannon. If this worked, it could be rolled out to other cities.
Duty Breen’s survey revealed that almost 90% of respondents experienced a decrease in visitor numbers in 2010 compared to 2009 and 45% cited the loss or reductions in flights at Shannon as the main reason for this decrease in business.
The survey was undertaken among all Fáilte Ireland registered B&Bs and all hotel and guesthouses registered with the Irish Hotels Federation in County Clare. From the 160 questionnaires, there was a 50% response level.  
“The aim of the survey was to assess the impact which the reduction of visitor numbers and the recession has had on the Clare Tourism Sector this year and to assess our strengths and weaknesses as a tourist destination,” said the Fine Gael spokesperson on overseas aid and human rights. 
Mr Breen said the survey underlined the importance of Shannon Airport as a conduit for boosting the economy of the wider area. “Respondents made this quite clear when giving their observations as to why there was such a dramatic decrease in visitors this year compared to 2009.  Forty-five per cent cited the loss or reduction in flights at the airport as the reason for the decrease in business. The survey confirmed that 47% of visitors to the county did not access here via Shannon Airport,” he said.
Deputy Breen said respondents reported a very positive feedback from 75% of visitors in relation to the Clare tourism product.
Of those who were negative on this issue, 36% cited the differential in airline fares between Shannon and Dublin airports for their negativity, 29% the high cost of food and eating out and 21% the cost of visiting the Cliffs of Moher Experience.
Deputy Breen has identified a high level of dissatisfaction in the local tourism industry to promotional support.
“Eighty-one per cent of participants are unhappy with the level of promotional support from Tourism Ireland while 87% are unhappy with the level of promotional support from Shannon Development,” he said. Deputy Breen added that 59% of participants feel that visitors to Ireland are not getting value for money.
An issue that needs to be addressed as a matter of is the fact that 45% of visitors spend just one night in Clare, Deputy Breen said.  Respondents to the survey averted to that in that 56% feel there are insufficient activities in Clare for tourists off-peak. The vast majority (79%) of visitors are sightseers.
“Ninety thousand people visit the Cliffs of Moher each year and we need all of them to spend at least one night in Clare,” a respondent observed, adding, “We need to establish a second special attraction in the Bunratty area.”