Glamping pods on farms proposed as solution to tourist accommodation shortages in Clare

'GLAMPING' pods have been suggested as a solution to the lack of accommodation and over-night night stay capacity for tourists in County Clare.

A motion submitted at the December meeting of Clare County Council last Monday has proposed a pilot scheme to provide "serviced pods (glamping)" on farms in rural and coastal Clare to address the shortage of tourist accommodation.

Local councillor for West Clare, Cillian Murphy submitted the motion, suggesting the scheme could provide a farm-based visitor experience that "will support rural diversification and wider local economic benefits associated with longer staying independent travellers".

Cllr Murphy's motion also proposed limiting the number of glamping pods to a maximum of two per farm, "subject to all other planning considerations".

The lack of over-night accommodation for tourists in is a "key challenge and objective" to be addressed by the Clare Tourism Strategy 2030, according to Leonard Cleary, the director of Tourism Development and West Clare MD.

According to Mr Cleary, a "comprehensive assessment" has been carried out on motorhome/campervan service provision in the county, while Fáilte Ireland have also commissioned and funded an accommodation audit for Clare.

The results of this audit are set to be shared with councillors in the new year.

"There has been extensive tourism and economic development throughout county Clare, however the hotel accommodation investment has not yet occurred," Mr Cleary said in his reply to Cllr Murphy's motion.

"Other options are needed."

He continued to say that the Tourism and Economic Directorates would work to "research and provide planning guidance" to potential investors interested in Cllr Murphy's proposed pilot, to guide investment within planning policy.