This article is from page 11 of the 2006-09-14 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 11 JPG
A CLARE County Council-led delegation will depart Shannon Airport tomorrow (Wednesday) for a factfinding mission to the Spanish cities of Girona and Barcelona.
During the visit, the delegation will meet with officials from the County Council of Girona, Costa Brava Tourism, Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Barcelona City Council and the newly-appointed Director of Girona International Airport.
The trip, involving six councillors, three officials and four “sectoral representatives”, will cost €16,345.
Addressing the September meeting of Clare County Council, Councillor Richard Nagle – Chairman of the Planning and Economic Development SPC – said that the visit was part of the local authority’s ongoing education and training programme for Strategic Policy Committees.
Ms. Bernadette Kinsella, Director of Services, Economic Development and Planning, Clare County Council, pointed out that Ryanair’s expansion at Shannon Airport had made Clare one of the best-served regions of its size anywhere in Europe.
She added that there was huge potential for the development of tourism and business in the mid-west.
“We now have to formulate a policy whereby Clare’s economy can capitalise upon the increased number of passengers flying into Shannon Airport.
“This fact-finding trip to Spain will determine how such tourist agencies as Barcelona Chamber of Commerce and the County Council of Girona have profited from Ryanair’s increased business at Girona International Airport,” Ms. Kinsella added.
The 13-strong delegation is made up of representatives of Clare County Council’s Planning and Economic Development Strategic Policy Committee.
Those travelling on behalf of the SPC include representatives of the county’s agriculture, tourism, industrial, community and economic development sectors.
SPC member and President of Ennis Chamber of Commerce, John Madden will represent the local business and commercial sector.
The four-day tourism drive is the latest in a series of council initiatives geared towards the promotion of Shannon Airport as a key gateway to County Clare’s many tourist attractions.
Over 3,000 tourists are expected to visit County Clare via Shannon Airport over the coming months as a result of recent tourism promotion drives.