This article is from page 10 of the 2006-09-05 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 10 JPG
TOUR operators have put a number of alternatives to charging €60 per coach when the Council’s new €31.5 million visitor centre at the Cliffs of Moher becomes operational to Clare County council.
The Irish Tour Operators Association (ITOA) is opposed to the new pricing structure and in a bid to have the Council reverse its plan met with the offfical leading the project, Ger Dollard in Dublin last Friday.
President of the ITOA, Brian Murray said that the ITOA executive “put forward some interesting suggestions in terms of what we would propose for alternatives to generating revenues at the site”.
Mr Murray described the meeting as ‘positive’, stating that a “frank and open discussion” had taken place.
He said, “We explained that we couldn’t work at the proposed €60 charge. Mr Dollard said that he would hold a meeting with his colleagues and revert back to us.”
The ITOA has also expressed concern over a new booking system at the Cliffs and Mr Murray said: “We agreed that ITOA members would talk to officials at the Cliffs site in order to try to agree upon a system.
Mr Murray said that the ITOA has a Council meeting on Wednesday and was anxious that the Council’s response to the ITOA’s alternatives would be in place by then.
Commenting on the meeting to The Clare People yesterday, Mr Dollard said, “The Council had a very useful meeting with the ITOA on Friday last.
He said, “At the end of the day we are both in the tourism business and it is in all our interests that the Cliffs of Moher New Visitor Experience operates to the highest standards to give an exceptional visitor experience for every visitor as well as putting forward a very positive image for Irish tourism.
“I am confident that the Council and the ITOA can work positively together in a collaborative fashion to develop the full potential of the Cliffs of Moher New Visitor Experience.