Shannon Development to review future of Kilkee tourist office

DOUBTS have been cast doubt on whether or not Kilkee will have a tourist office in 2011.

Fine Gael TD Pat Breen had written to John Quinlivan, Shannon Development’s manager of tourism visitor services, to register concern about the facility, which is regarded as a major asset to the resort.
The office is closed at weekends, which is the busiest visitor time in Kilkee. Earlier this year, it looked as if the office was not going to reopen for 2010 but eventually, it was relocated and opened for the summer season.
However, John Quinlivan has indicated in response to Deputy Breen that the office’s future is again under consideration.
“Plans for the 2011 season will be considered over the next two months. However, as you will be aware budgetary issues will have an effect on any decisions that are to be made,” he said in his letter to Deputy Breen.
He denied suggestions that the current office is significantly smaller than the previous one and said that opening hours were agreed with a local committee.
“As you are aware, earlier this year, I attended a meeting of local community and political representatives in Kilkee to discuss the operations of the Kilkee Tourist Office. Following that meeting, a representative group, which included the president of the chamber, was established. The current location of the office was identified by Mayor Lilly Marrinan-O’Sullivan in agreement with all the other members. The current office is only a short walk from the previous location and is only marginally smaller. In fact, the office, because of the layout, probably has greater area for display for merchandise and is friendlier to visitors as it does not have a counter. It also has more than adequate parking space in front,” John Quinlivan stated.
“The opening hours, 9.30am to 5.30pm were also agreed with the group following discussions. Visitor numbers to the office are on a par with last year,” he added.
Meanwhile, Deputy Breen has told The Clare Champion that Shannon Development and the tourism industry in Kilkee must meet again to plan for the 2011 tourist season.
“It is opportune now, as the end of season approaches, that a review takes place and that plans are put in place for the 2011 season. This would allow Kilkee to reach out to more visitors especially given the success of Loop Head in being awarded the title of European Destination of Excellence in Aquatic Tourism and the potential that there is for tourism development throughout West Clare,” he said.
Deputy Breen believes the tourist office should be located in Kilkee library.
“The library, as proposed last year, would make an ideal location for the tourist office especially as it has internet access and with the proposed upgrading of the library, I hope that serious consideration will be given to locating the tourist office there. The office could include a gift shop, internet access and any other facilities which would improve the service available to tourists coming to Kilkee. An exciting new tourist office could be in place for 2011 and I hope that discussions will get underway as soon as possible so that facilities can be in place for next summer,” he concluded.
In a recent Clare Champion interview, Kilkee Chamber secretary John Williams expressed disbelief that the recently launched West Clare Task Force report mooted the idea of locating an expanded tourist office in Kilrush but none in Kilkee.
“I’m told that in the plan, there’s a plan to close all the tourist offices except in Kilrush and to build a big new one in Kilrush. I’ve a problem with that. There are five hotels in Kilkee. There’s no hotel in Kilrush. Kilkee is a tourist town. Kilrush isn’t. And yet the tourist office is not going to be in Kilkee?” he said.