ATTRACTION COSTS: While we may be tempted to holiday at home in these straightened times, we don't want to pay through the nose to view natural wonders such as the Cliffs of Moher, writes CONOR POPE
DEJA VU anyone? Every summer our politicians and tourism chiefs sing a lusty chorus of What Amazing Value Holidays At Home Are, to the rhythm of the falling rain, while those of us who choose optimism over logic and believe that chorus look mournfully out at heavy grey clouds and try to work out how we can pass the wet days on the cheap.
While it is true that there are more bargains to be found in hotels – a report last week indicated that hotel prices had fallen back to levels not seen since 1999 – and, to a lesser extent, restaurants, Ireland is still by no means a cheap place to holiday and the cost of activities and tourist attractions, in particular, can add a fair whack to any holiday.
At the Aqua Dome in Tralee, adult admission is €15, while tickets for children over the age of two cost €12. So a family of two adults and three children, will shell out a hefty €66 before coffees and sandwiches and bags of crisps and soft drinks are factored into the equation. If you want to kiss the Blarney Stone it will set you back €10, while a ticket into the Guinness Storehouse can cost up to €15. Bunratty Castle in Co Clare costs between €6 and €15.75 for a visit. An adult will pay €15 to visit Dublin Zoo, while children over three are charged €10.50. Anyone over 12 has to pay €8.50 to see the Book of Kells, an adult at the Aillwee Caves will spend €17.50, while a visit to Powerscourt waterfall costs €6.
None of these charges, however, have attracted as much attention and criticism as the one which is to be introduced later this summer at the Cliffs of Moher. The cliffs are Ireland’s second most popular tourist destination behind the Guinness Storehouse and they are undoubtedly one of the most breathtaking natural wonders we have on this island. It is not, however, their beauty but the price of seeing that beauty that has attracted the most talk this season.
Earlier this summer a controversial €6 entrance charge per adult and child over 12 was proposed at the cliffs – the age limit for children was subsequently extended to 16. The charge, which has angered many people, is being introduced by the Clare County Council-owned management company. It calls it “family-friendly”. It says it is “to provide the facilities and visitor management required onsite both indoors and outdoors and it now includes admission to the exhibition”. Despite having 763,000 visitors annually, the company has incurred an average annual loss of €260,000 over the past two years. This is almost certainly the motivation behind introducing the new fee.
It would appear that people are not buying into the idea of such high charges. While many fee-paying attractions in Ireland saw a decline in visitor numbers last year, the free destinations have proved more resilient.
The decline in visitors to certain sites can, at least partially, be explained by an overall decline in overseas visitors. Last year the number of trips to Ireland fell by almost one million or 11.6 per cent compared with the previous year.
According to figures from Fáilte Ireland, visitors to the Guinness Storehouse – the most popular tourist destination in the State – fell by 20,000 last year, to 1,019,166. Dublin Zoo ushered around 30,000 fewer through its gates last year, although a fairly healthy 898,000 still visited. Visitor numbers to the Cliffs of Moher headed south to the tune of 40,000 compared with 2008 – some 764,000 visited last year – while 63,000 fewer people paid to see the Book of Kells, bringing visitor numbers down to 478,000.
While fee-based tourist attractions are struggling, the free attractions – of which there are many – are doing very well. The Natural History Museum – which reopened at the end of April – the National Gallery, Farmleigh House and the Botanic Gardens posted strong growth last year, an indication that cash-strapped and canny tourists are looking for more ways to get stuff for nothing.
The National Gallery of Ireland, which splits its visitor numbers roughly 50/50 between tourists and locals, saw numbers grow by over 40,000 or 5 per cent last year – from 742,000 to 782,000. Visitor numbers at the Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin jumped 12,000 to 612,000. An additional 50,000 people went through the doors of Farmleigh House last year compared to 2008. The total number of visitors was 246,000 – an indication, if one were needed, that while we might like to do stuff while we holiday at home, we’re not that keen on paying through the nose for it.
French tourist Audrey Bouvard said it was unclear at the entrance that just to see the cliffs was free. “But I asked the girl when we arrived. I made the choice.” The parking charge, she said, was acceptable if the money went towards conservation.
Steep prices
Currently, there are six different payment options for adults visiting the Cliffs of Moher complex:
1. Pedestrians or cyclists can see the cliffs for free and can opt to also see Atlantic Edge for €4.95.
2. Motorists can see the cliffs for an €8 parking charge.
3. Motorists can also see Atlantic Edge for a total of €12.95 (€8 + €4.95).
4. Coach tourists can see the cliffs and Atlantic Edge for a per-head charge for coach operators that varies between €1.66 and €1.03 for groups of between 15 and 58.
5. Adults can pay an online price of €6.95 that includes Atlantic Edge and parking.
6. A final cited option is actually non-existent in practice. According to the website cliffsofmoher.ie, the “standard” price for an adult is €8.45 but, in fact, neither this price nor the other listed “standard” ones are charged.
German tourist Hans Twurdi is interested in viewing the cliffs only. Although he arrived by coach, he believes the €8 parking charge is acceptable but thinks the new €6 per head fee too expensive. “I am interested in nature, not museums or slide shows.
For Barry Carr, who cycled with his family from their camper van in nearby Doolin, a visit to the cliffs is a regular event. As cyclists they did not have to pay . “Nobody minds paying for the car park but €6 per head is a bit steep.”
For Joby Poulose and his family of four adults and a child who travelled from Galway, the prospect of paying €24 under the new pricing structure was daunting. “I would not pay that. I do not feel that is a very good idea. €8 is not too bad for parking the car,” Poulose said.
French tourist Audrey Bouvard said it was unclear at the entrance that just to see the cliffs was free. “But I asked the girl when we arrived. I made the choice.” The parking charge, she said, was acceptable if the money went towards conservation.
