This article is from page 23 of the 2012-01-17 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 23 JPG
HOPES are high that North Clare could see an increase in the number of Chinese tourists in the years ahead following an historic visit by the Chinese Ambassador to the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher over the weekend. The ambassador, his Excellency Mr Luo Liang, visited a number of North Clare locations on Saturday as part of his first ever visit to the county. The Cliffs of Moher was the first stop and here Ambassador Luo was welcomed by the Mayor of Clare, Councillor Pat Hayes (FF), before he enjoyed a guided tour of the cliffs and O’Brien’s Tower given by the Director of the Cliffs of Moher Experi- ence, Katherine Webster. “The number of Chinese visitors to the Cliffs of Moher has been increasing in the last few years and 2011 saw a number of Chinese specialist tour groups making regular visits,” said the Mayor of Clare, Pat Hayes. “We want to encourage our Chinese friends to spend more time in County Clare that has so much to offer them. I am delighted to have had the opportunity to welcome Ambassador Luo here so early this year and we in the county look forward to doing likewise for many of his compatriots in the year ahead.” After the Cliffs of Moher the ambassador then moved on to Lisdoonvarna where he sampled the fare at the Burren Smokehouse. He was also given a tour of the smoking factory by Birgitta and Peter Curtin. The Ambassador and his party continued on to lunch at Burren Fine Wine and Food near Ballyvaughan and rounded off their tour with a visit to Poulnabrone Portal Tomb in the heart of the Burren. This was Ambassador Luo’s first visit to County Clare and he expressed his conviction that Chinese visitors would appreciate the stunning vistas of the Cliffs of Moher and the spectacular landscape of the Burren. He also highlighted the warm welcome he had received in County Clare and the remarkable cultural heritage of the county. Following a plan to streamline the visa applications process for Chinese people visiting Ireland, it is hoped that a large number of visitors will come to Ireland in 2012, with many expected to include Ireland as part of their trip to London 2012.