Revised Facilities Charges At Cliffs Of Moher

Lightholler

Tour and coach operators are set to benefit from a revised facilities charge scheme at the site of the new EUR31.5 million Cliffs of Moher visitor centre project in north Clare. Clare County Council announced today that the new structure is designed to benefit operators who regularly conduct business at the world famous site. The review follows on from discussions between the Local Authority and the Irish Tour Operators Association (ITOA).

“The revised proposals set out by Clare County Council represent a significant shift in overall pricing policy at the Cliffs and are, in our view, an exceptionally positive response to the issues being raised by the ITOA”, stated Ger Dollard, project leader for Clare County Council's ‘Cliffs of Moher New Visitor Experience’ team. He added, “Coach traffic forms a significant part of business to the Cliffs and it is important that this segment of the market be adequately catered for in the new arrangements. We are confident that these arrangements offer a realistic basis for both parties to work together in a positive and constructive way to achieve the highest standards of site and visitor management at the country’s number one tourist attraction.”

The revised arrangements will run in tandem with a pilot discount incentive scheme
launched by the Council some months ago. Under this scheme, tour and coach operators who regularly conduct business at the Cliffs and other named partner north Clare attractions will benefit from a 60-80% reduction in the facilities charge.

Meanwhile, Clare County Council has proposed that a working group be established with representatives of the ITOA to oversee the introduction of improved management measures at the Cliffs of Moher New Visitor Experience. Part of the proposal includes the creation of an advanced booking system designed to avoid the situation whereby many coaches simultaneously arrive on site. “It has become increasingly evident to Clare County Council that the absence of any visitor management at the site over the years has led to severe traffic congestion – both pedestrian and vehicular at peak times, which is damaging to the environment and does little to enhance the visitor experience. For environmental reasons; the proper management of the attraction and to improve their enjoyment of the attraction, it is necessary that approaches be taken to manage visitors at the site. This particularly applies to coach traffic given the volumes of passengers that can currently arrive simultaneously at the location”, Mr. Dollard concluded.

Coach operators have shown very positive support for the Cliffs of Moher New Visitor Experience project to date. Three leading tour operators from the USA, United Kingdom and Ireland have already fully committed their 2007 tourist programme to the project while advance bookings for 2007/2008 are well ahead of expectations.

The new Visitor Centre – opening in early 2007 - will include a major Interpretative area containing exhibits and display on a range of aspects of the Cliffs of Moher. The facilities within the building will be subsumed into the contours of the hillside to minimise any visual impact. Plans are being made to accommodate close to one million visitors each year once the new facilities are in place.

Further details are available on www.cliffsofmoher.ie.