This article is from page 18 of the 2012-02-21 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 18 JPG
AN East Clare ent repreneur is hoping a new online guide can spark a r ush i n tourist bookings n t he Banner Count y.
Eoin O’Hagan recently met with Gover nment ministers to highlight the potential of his website, www. clarevi r t ually.ie.
The website was launched at the end of August 2011 as Eoin saw the potential for a new and innovative way to promote tour ism products, in Clare and t hroughout t he rest of t he count r y.
The prospective visitor logs on to t he site, clicks on t he relevant l ink and watches a 60-second video tour of the selected B&B. He/She gets to see the exterior and interior of t he premises, including some shots of the bedrooms, sitting rooms and dining room.
But, accordi ng to Eoi n, t he most i mpor t ant par t of the video is when t he potential visitor is greeted by t he owner or manager wit h a smile and céad mí le fáilte.
After viewing the video tour, the prospective visitor can then book the product through t he link to the provider’s website. The t agline for the site is ‘Look Then Book’.
Eoin believes the video tours take away any doubts that t he prospective visitor may have about booking accommodation, rest aurants or ot her tourism products through a website.
The father of three, who lives in Scariff, believes the project could also generate employment local ly. He explained, “There is the poten- tial for the creation of highly skilled positions within t he organisation. Trai ned camerapersons, editors, IT and suppor t staff wil l be requi red as the site grows to include the 25 other counties i n the Republic.”
He added, “There is the possibility of 600 video tours in Clare alone. When t his is multiplied by t he other 25 counties, there would be many thousands of videos showing the tour ism products in a way t hat prospective visitors to Ireland would really appreciate.”
Eoin, who is involved in t he Clare Tourism For um, stated that there is huge potential to fur ther develop vi r t ual tours of Clare.
Earlier this mont h, he met with Mi nster of State wit h responsibility for Transpor t, Tourism and Spor t, Michael Ring and Clare Labour TD, Michael McNamara.
In a subsequent meeting wit h Minister of St ate Alan Kelly, Eoin and Deputy McNamara discussed tourism in the mid-west and specifically the potential for promoting angl ing on Lough Derg and sur rounding areas.