This article is from page 9 of the 2011-11-15 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 9 JPG
MANAGEMENT at the Cliffs of Moher Visitors Experience have paid tribute all those who helped the world famous tourist attraction reach the last 28 of the New Seven Wonders of Nature Competition.
The hopes of the cliffs reaching the coveted last seven positions were dashed early on Friday when competition organisers, Swiss non-profit company the New Seven Wonders Foundation, announced the top 14 attraction. When the cliffs – along with a number of other highly fancied locations such as the Grand Canyon – were not listed among the top 14 locations, the staff at the Cliffs of Moher Visitors Experience knew their race had been run.
Despite not reaching the final seven locations, Cliffs of Moher director Katherine Webster, says that making the final 28 has already been a great boost for the cliffs.
“We have been delighted to have the Cliffs of Moher contending for a spot in the New Seven Wonders of Nature and we know that a great number of Irish people and members of the Irish diaspora around the world weighed in with their support,” she said.
“We congratulate the top 14 candidates and the eventual winning seven and we would like to thank all of those in Ireland and abroad who supported the cliffs’ campaign in so many different ways.
“Supporters included public figures who endorsed the campaign, state agencies who promoted it nationally and globally, members of the national and local media who gave considerable coverage to the contest and members of the local tourism industry who put a considerable amount of work and resource into promoting the cliffs position.
“We are currently working on further enhancing the overall tourist product and look forward to continuing to welcome visitors to the Cliffs of Moher to what is one of the natural wonders of the world.”
The New Seven Wonders of Nature are the Amazon, Halong Bay, Iguazu Falls, Jeju Island, Komoda, Puerto Princesa Underground River and Table mountain.
“All of us in Clare know that the Cliffs of Moher is a special place and this campaign has put the Cliffs of Moher on the must-see list of many potential visitors to Ireland,” said Mayor of Clare, Pat Hayes (FF).
“The campaign has resulted in excellent exposure for the cliffs, for County Clare and for the west of Ireland. The cliffs involvement in the contest has already benefitted the local tourism economy.”