Above: The Illinois General AssemblyA high-powered Government and Industry delegation from the State of Illinois will travel to County Clare later this year, it was confirmed today.
The State Senators and House Representatives will meet with Clare County Council, Shannon Development, and all relevant tourism and business providers and development agencies during their visit this September. The trip was initiated by the Mayor of Clare who met with Members of the Illinois General Assembly as part of a recent promotional visit to the US Midwest.
Councillor Madeleine Taylor Quinn said that the visit by over twenty-five leading Democrat and Republican politicians represented an unprecedented opportunity for County Clare to highlight its attractiveness as an investment location and tourist destination. “The visit will open up this region’s potential as a tourism and investment location to leading representatives of Illinois State, which has population of over 14 million people,” she explained.
The Mayor continued, “The primary purpose of this visit is to consolidate existing and establish new tourism and business links between both locations. During their visit the delegation will travel all over County Clare meeting with business development agencies and tourism providers. It should be noted each member of the travelling delegation possesses extensive contacts in the US business and commercial sectors.” Mayor Taylor Quinn suggested that the upcoming visit highlighted also the importance of restoring direct flights between Shannon and Chicago O’Hare on a full-time basis.
Aer Lingus this week commenced operating thrice-weekly direct flights between the two airports. The direct service is scheduled to continue until 24th October after which passengers travelling from Shannon will once again have to disembark at Dublin Airport before proceeding to Chicago. Mayor Taylor Quinn pointed out that if Shannon is to remain as the ‘gateway’ to the West of Ireland for North American traffic then it must be put in a position where it can benefit from direct services. She continued, “US business interests have for many years invested in the West of Ireland due to the provision of direct flights to the Region. Likewise, US tourists have long travelled to the region because of available direct flights. There is no doubt that corporate investment in this region by US Multinationals would increase if these direct flights were to be restored indefinitely.”
Commenting on the tourism aspect of the upcoming visit, the Mayor noted, “Visits such as this are undoubtedly crucial to the overall success and development of the industry throughout the island at a very challenging time in the global tourism market.” “Showcasing our flagship attractions is key to enticing tourists to County Clare and the wider region, but it would be doing the area an injustice to forget the lesser well known attractions. During their trip the delegation will travel from Kilkee in West Clare to Lough Derg in East Clare with a view to understanding the varied and high quality tourism product that is on offer here. The potential thereafter for attracting visitors from the US Midwest is significant,” concluded Councillor Taylor Quinn.
