A Bit About Us

The Mission Statement of Clonakilty District Chamber of Tourism is to promote the region in general and the interests of its members in particular. These aims will be achieved by encouraging a visitor-friendly service ethic throughout its membership.

The Chamber was formed in 1999 as Clonakilty and District Chamber of Tourism in response to the increase in accommodation and facilities in the area against the statistical backdrop of falling visitor numbers. As a result of the welcome tax reliefs and BES schemes applied to developments in seaside resorts, a large number of holiday homes and accommodation outlets appeared very quickly. Other amenities developed around this phenomenon and all of this happened at a time of decreasing visitor numbers to the south-west region. This rapid development was very well managed by the local council so that it didn’t impact negatively on the area but it did increase the number of holiday beds in the area from four hundred to four thousand virtually over-night.

The Chamber was founded to address this issue and with over 4,000 holiday beds to fill is very aware of the challenge this presents and any trends that affects it. In the years since its formation, The Chamber has been very active promoting the region by producing Promotional Brochures, DVDs, Tourist Maps, innovative special offers, Marketing Plans, TV, Radio and Print Media adverts and editorial coverage. The Chamber also runs Familiarisation Trips for visiting journalists and tourism organisers as well as local service providers but perhaps the most important aspect of the Chamber’s work was the creation and ongoing maintenance of www.clonakilty.ie the districts website. The website is experiencing heavy traffic and is becoming increasingly more important. Members’ sites are linked to The Chamber’s site and this has proved to be a very effective selling tool.

The Chamber has a number of constant objectives

• To prepare and implement a marketing plan for district
• To increase the numbers of visitors to the region
• To extend the traditional tourist season
• To continue to evolve the website as an effective marketing tool
• To work closely with and involve other agencies in the promotion of the area
• To continue to develop promotional literature and their strategic placement
• To continue to advertise proactively to maintain and increase our market share
• To attend selected promotions and trade shows on behalf of the members
• To promote an awareness of the work and the importance of The Chamber in the development of the tourism product and its economic impact on the region
• To encourage, assist and liaise with all other local bodies particularly in the provision and promotion of festivals
• To monitor developments and be a lobby group for its members
  

The name was changed to Clonakilty District Chamber of Tourism in recognition of the importance and interdependence of the town of Clonakilty and its environs. Clonakilty District stretches from Rosscarbery to the West to Courtmacsherry to the East. In between, places like Timoleague, Butlerstown, Barryroe, Lislevane, Ring, Ballinascarthy, Ardfield, Rathbarry, Lisavaird, Rossmore and indeed our hub, Clonakilty, make up this idyllic setting. The relationship between urban and rural communities can be difficult in practice but here it is not just a marriage of convenience but a happy one to boot. There is a consummate, innate understanding by the residents of the interdependence of the communities and the need to work together towards common goals. The urban areas have a large accommodation block and centralised services that are essential to the rural area while they in turn provide many of the activities and the stunning land and seascapes that the residents and the visitors staying in the urban accommodation value so highly.

Clonakilty District received further international recognition when it was designated a European Destination of Excellence. The Chamber’s written submission to Fáilte Ireland narrowed the field down to eleven destinations and The Chamber made a presentation to eight Failte Ireland nominated adjudicators from diverse backgrounds and interests and they unanimously selected Clonakilty District as the overall winner. The award was presented to the Chamber by Gunther Verheugen, Vice President of The European Commission, at a ceremony in The Algarve.

The Chamber is a completely voluntary group, with a board elected annually at an Annual General Meeting, dedicated to marketing Clonakilty District as a most desirable tourist destination and is totally dependent on membership subscriptions to do this.

Some Benefits of Membership

• Web Representation
• Link to member’s website
• Inclusion in register of members for worldwide distribution
• Office representation with direct referrals
• Contributing to proactive marketing ensures increased market share for your area
• Reaching markets and users that would be out of range of SMEs
• Access to other members’ premises for advertising services
• Members referral ethic
• Brochure and promotional literature
• Benefit from advertising
• Be part of strong lobby group
• Representation at selected trade shows
• Representation at In-Store promotions
  

Applications for membership will be welcomed by any of the following committee members