This article is from page 37 of the 2008-07-29 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 37 JPG
WHILE conventional large-scale tourism is enduring a difficult period throughout the county, the evolution of eco-tourism in Clare is providing some hope for the future.
A number of organisations, pre- dominantly based in the Burren region, have begun to evolve a new system of tourism based on offering a small scale and uniquely personal experience of holidaying in Clare.
One such organisation is the Bur- ren Farmers Ecological Co-operative who have begun a series of farmer- led guided Burren walks this year.
“There is untold potential in eco- tourism in the Burren. A lot of peo-
ple have been involved in eco-tour- ism for more than 20 years but just WTEAYos OM OXees OOO U UROL SB LLUOT-T MOET D (OM \CEC: airi O Conchuir of the Burren Farm- ers Ecological Co-operative.
“It’s about a different type of tour- ism. What people are looking for is a real experience with real people. Things like the farmers led walks in the Burren where they can interact on a one-to-one basis with farmers and have a cultural, archaeological or agricultural tour of the real Bur- ren. It’s the kind of experience that you can’t get anywhere else.”
The walks represent the beginning for the co-operative, with plans al- ready in place for the creation of au- thentic live-in Burren farm holidays
and farmhouse self-catering units.
“We are looking to moving into farm based accommodation. Real farmhouse accommodation where people can come and actually get a genuine experience of the Burren,” continued Ruairi.
“That can also be expanded into working holidays where people will actually pay to live on a Burren farm and work – either doing farm work or conservation work in the Burren. It happens in a number of places al- ready but we have a much greater po- tential for it in the Burren.”
Another organisation to explore the possibilities of eco-tourism is Heart of the Burren guided tours. The com- pany has this year begun hosting a
twice weekly guided walk and plans are already afoot to increase this service dramatically in 2009.
“The market has vast potential in it. The demand for guided walks is something that is growing and I think will continue to grow. Clare is uniquely placed to take advantage of this – there is a huge range of activity based holidays on offer in the county at the moment,’ said Tony Kirby of Je (
“*T think it is even starting to be rec- ognised by the tourist authorities that the demand for tourism is changing. Shannon Development now promote the walking trails on their website – we are able to compete with the very best of these attractions both nation-
ally and internationally.
‘The forecast for the future is that mass tourism may not be able to ex- pand any further, it may even decline. But the smaller scale tourism, the eco-tourism, still has vast expansion to do. Mass tourism has probably re- alised most of it’s potential now at this stage where as eco-tourism still has huge potential to realise.
‘“Tl’m very pleased with the season to date. It’s been a challenging year across most of the tourism sector and I guess I’ve just been lucky to get go- ing with this when I did. I can see this as something that can benefit the whole community. It will benefit the visitors centres, the transport and ac- commodation providers. The lot.”