The Clare Tourism Forum this evening launched a new website aimed at reversing the sharp decline in visitor numbers to County Clare over the last year. Clareoffers.com, which was launched at the annual Clare Tourist Council conference in Ennistymon this weekend, promotes special offers and discounts on accommodation, attractions, activities, and shopping discounts from around County Clare.

The initiative follows on from a successful campaign undertaken, in conjunction with Aer Lingus, during which North American tourists were encouraged to fly into Shannon International Airport and spend time in Clare. 

According to Forum Chairperson Richard Nagle the challenges facing the local tourism sector are significantly different from what they were when the Clare Tourism Forum was established four years ago. He noted that the significant drop in international visitor numbers had been exacerbated by the slowdown in economic growth in Ireland and the main source markets, as well as the emergence of cheaper holiday destinations.

"There is a very real commitment among all tourism agencies and operators in Clare to participate in a unified approach to addressing common issues facing the sector. I am confident that the Forum's strategic and collaborative approach, which is illustrated by the launch of the new website, will result in a sustained increase in visitor numbers to Clare in 2010", added Councillor Nagle.

The Clare Tourism Forum was established in November 2005 with the objective of mobilising a collaborative strategy to sustain and develop tourism within the county. Its membership includes representatives of the principle agencies involved in tourism promotion in Clare in partnership with representatives of the hotel, vintners, tourism retail and B+B sectors as well as the main local tourism attractions.

Commenting on the launch of the new website, Maureen Cleary, Marketing Executive of the Clare Tourism Forum said: "clareoffers.com is an ideal platform to showcase Clare as a fantastic value destination and provides the 'call to action' a potential visitor needs to book their trip to the County We are delighted that tourism providers from around County Clare are supporting this excellent addition to the existing county tourism website clare.ie.  Both websites are excellent selling tools created by the dedicated tourism partnership, the Clare Tourism Forum".

Ms Cleary continued: "The Clare Tourism Forum is committed to reinforcing Clare's status as a domestic and international tourist destination alike. This commitment is underlined by the production of the first County Clare tourism brochure in over a decade earlier this year. We are confident that members of the tourism industry and wider business community in Clare will
embrace and support our marketing drive dedicated to Clare."

Meanwhile, the Clare Tourism Forum has confirmed that Councillor Nagle will be stepping down as Chairperson in early 2010 and will be replaced by a leading tourism representative from the private sector.