Tourism drive to focus on facilities for caravans

A steering committee is to be set up to develop more motorhome parking sites in County Cork, especially in areas where tourism is not popular.

The group will comprise members of Fáilte Ireland, Cork County Council, the Irish Caravan & Camping Council, and rural hospitality providers.

Details about the planned, new steering committee were outlined to county councillors in Cork by Sharon Corcoran, the local authority’s director of economic development, enterprise, and tourism.

She envisages that the group will be in place before the start of the peak summer tourist season.

Cllr Alan Coleman, chairman of the council’s Tourism SPC (Special Purposes Committee), said a draft document had been drawn up by the council, with eight recommendations to support existing motorhome providers.

The council, he said, was also anxious for private operators to provide further services for caravans and motorhomes in tourist areas where services sites or parks currently do not exist.

Cllr Timmy Collins said, in particular, that in parts of North Cork, tourism figures remained low, because of the lack of proper facilities for weekend and long-term visitors.

“Several areas are well worth visiting and, if we had motorhome parks there, they would encourage some tourists to stay,” he said.

Cllr John Paul O’Shea agreed.