This article is from page 31 of the 2010-02-02 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 31 JPG
THE seaside town of Kilkee, received another blow this week with news that its tourist office is to close.
Despite falling tourism figures the popular holiday town had continued to fight to attract visitors to the area, with such projects as the redevelop- ment of the Sweeney Memorial L1i- brary now underway.
The West Clare Economic Task Force has also been working to en- courage tourists west next summer.
However Shannon Development confirmed that the tourist office, which opens during the summer months, will remain closed perma- eA
An information point is to be in- stalled in its place.
The decision to close what has been described as a “valuable resource for the seaside resort and the surround- ing region’, has been made due to NESE DEED RokI Ne BE SLICE
Fine Gael TD Joe Carey said he has written to those responsible in regional tourism to urge them to re- consider this decision.
“T do not believe that now is the time for us to be removing or scal- ing back on our tourist product. This is not a good long-term decision for Kilkee or the region in general, and I would ask Shannon Development to reconsider the closure of this of- fice. The tourist office in Kilkee is a
vital source of information on what to do and see in the area as well as a way for local business, such as ho- tels, guesthouses and restaurants, to promote their products. It’s removal and closure will have an adverse fi- nancial effect on the local region. It is not a good day for west Clare tour- ism,” he said.
‘The wider picture here is one of Government’s inability to properly fund and develop Ireland’s tourist product. A 12 per cent drop in tour- ist visitors to Ireland last year is very worrying. This coupled with the on- going uncertainty over both Ryanair and Aer Lingus and their business through Shannon Airport are placing huge pressure on the tourist industry
in County Clare. This region was promised a marketing fund post open skies to help sustain and develop our tourist sector. Yet that fund has never materialised. With tourist office now closing on this Government’s watch, it gives some indication of the pres- sures the mid-west region is facing.
“Notwithstanding the difficulties the sector faces, I do not believe that closing the Kilkee Tourist Of- fice will have a net gain for the tax- payer in the long run. Symbolically, the closure of this office will undo much good work that has been done in promoting Kilkee in recent years. I would urge Shannon Development to reconsider this announcement,” he said.