Clare to be "best in class" if successful in global tourism bid
TOURISM leaders across Clare have joined forces to achieve Ireland’s first Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) certificate.
With the aim of achieving a global recognition cert for their work in managing sustainable travel and tourism, a local GSTC Destination Green Team has been set up.
The Tourism Department of Clare County Council and the Clare Tourism Advisory Forum established the Green Team to oversee the progress of securing the certificate. It is made up of local authority employees, tourism and conservation agencies, community leaders and more.
Clare will join dozens of worldwide destinations that have received the designation if they are successful, such as The Azores (Portugal), Rottnest Island (Australia), Breckenridge & Vail in Colorado (USA) and Tarvisio (Italy).
Saying that the certification would “consolidate the existing work” done by Clare tourism operators and the local authority, Cllr Joe Cooney, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, said: “Clare has a proud and lengthy track record of adopting a sustainable approach to tourism development in the county.
“Developing a countywide sustainable tourism policy and securing international certification will consolidate this work and ensure sustainability remains at the core of everything the local sector does into the future.”
Clare’s bid to become a globally certified sustainable tourism destination commenced in 2022, when surveys of residents in Clare were carried out to measure tourism impacts on the local economy, communities, heritage, and environment.
“Achieving a countywide GSTC Destination Certification will elevate Clare to the status of best in class, when it comes to sustainable tourism in Ireland and will demonstrate that Clare tourism operators take sustainability seriously,” said Leonard Cleary, Director of Tourism Development with Clare County Council.