This article is from page 10 of the 2006-05-09 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 10 JPG
MEMBERS of Clare’s tourism business have come together and are willing to put their hands in their own pockets in order to boost the county’s tourism industry.
Speaking at Clare County Council’s Special Policy Committee (SPC) on Economic Development, committee chair, Cllr Richard Nagle (FF) said, “Arising from the tourism forum, all the indications are that members of the trade are willing to put their hands in their pockets to ensure that the financial burden doesn’t fall with the council.”
Council Director for Economic Development, Bernadette Kinsella told the meeting that the forum has established four working groups.
One is to make a submission to the National Development Plan on needed infrastructure; the second to lodge an application to Failte Ireland for general revenues; the third to finalise funding arrangements on how the trade will contribute; and the fourth to identify a brand for County Clare.
Ms Kinsella said that 50 applications have been received through the competition established to identify a new brand and the result will published in the near future.
“It is found when applications are made for central funding from Clare, it is coming from three or four separate sources,” he said, “and it is much easier that it comes from an umbrella group rather than from individual groups.
“We will be successful in what we are seeking to do. The programme is very encouraging.”
Cllr Peter Considine (FF) said that it was critical that the tourism trade contribute, “It is very welcome that they have agreed to contribute.”
Ms Kinsella said, “If the forum is going to be council-driven, it is not going to make too much progress.”
Cllr Martin Lafferty (Ind) agreed, saying, “The council should only act as a facilitator in this initiative.”
On plans to appoint a tourism development officer, Ms Kinsella said that Shannon Development has stated that it is to appoint a tourism development officer for Clare.
She said, “The forum has expresses the wish that it should form a very close working relationship with the tourism information officer.”
Cllr Peter Considine said, “I would be very much in favour of keeping the Tourism Development Officer under the watchful eye so that the Tourism Development Officer is not siphoned off to north Kerry or Offaly.”
Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) said, “What we have heard today is very positive. It has taken an awful long time to reach this point as efforts to promote tourism have been very fragmented.”