• Assist the Shannon Group in the preparation of market feasibility reports on potential routes – assessing tourism and business composition. • Work collaboratively with tour operators, Fáilte Ireland and tourism businesses to develop western and Clare-centric packages that will highlight the Airport as ‘gateway to the west’ and a hub for the Atlantic Corridor Initiative 6. Explore the feasibility of attracting an appropriate segment of the cruise sector in a sustainable manner. The Shannon Foynes Port is a tier 1 Port of National Significance and represents an international gateway by sea to the region. With the plans to significantly reduce the docking of cruise liners in Dublin (temporarily in favour of freight), the number arriving into the Shannon Estuary has been growing, although presently most are docking at the Limerick Docks.
7. Develop and implement a public transportation strategy that addresses sustainable travel options designed to support tourism – focusing on enhancing connectivity between local destinations and providing visitors with viable mobility options. This work should move forward in phases. It will need to address major issues associated with rurality and the shift in consumer behaviour, that includes trends of declining car ownership in younger populations. Identifying appropriate solutions will be challenging and there will be a need to pilot and assess the potential of a range of solutions as part of this phased work. Assessment needs to be from multiple perspectives that look at economic, social, and environmental benefits. • Prepare an audit of all existing services, including rural taxi services and Local Link, public transportation links between Ennis and key destinations within the county, and between Shannon Airport and key destinations. Identify critical gaps. • Conduct a comprehensive economic and social assessment of the pilot Cliffs of Moher shuttle bus initiative. Include an assessment of any data derived from the provision of shuttle services for the Dubai Irish Open in 2019.
Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk Shuttle Service
COUNTY CLARE TOURISM STRATEGY 2030
• Establish a working group of stakeholders (academic partners, transportation partners, tourism groups/businesses and the public sector) to identify working practices from elsewhere and to determine potential solutions that would strengthen a seamless transportation system in County Clare.
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o Assess the suitability of piloting relevant options. Solutions will need to consider sustainability factors (nature and type of energy consumption) and factors relating to efficiency, which will include a comprehensive assessment of new technologies in mobility management. • Assess demand management opportunities to help optimise pilot initiatives and increase the initial viability of new solutions. This should include ways of incentivising public transportation options that will generate further benefit to local communities. • Initiate work on improving the synchronisation of timetables and dovetailing of services – particularly rail and bus services. • Explore and highlight opportunities to build new solutions around appropriate ride-sharing options, micro-transit services and/or community-led rural transport options. While these options may be focused primarily on local needs, consideration needs to be given to their suitability for improving visitor mobility. The EU SMARTA 2 Sustainable Rural Mobility project provides a forum for discussion of best practices and building knowledge on sustainable mobility – https://ruralsharedmobility.eu/ o As synchronisation improves and new solutions emerge, develop and promote an appropriate smart phone app for Clare public transportation that will support travel and assist visitors in using various services. Ideally an app facilitates planning, booking and paying for travel choices. o As opportunities arise, support the transition to low emission or electric vehicles within the transportation system.