‘Zip-Through’ Tourism in West

Some tourist attractions in the west of Ireland have been reduced to a “zip through” by tour companies that operate day trips from the capital, a Fianna Fáil TD for Co Clare has claimed.

The party's spokesperson on tourism, Cathal Crowe, criticised bus tour companies in how they operate in counties such as Clare and Galway, saying they stop to allow customers to take selfies at certain scenic spots and “on they go” afterwards.

Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, Mr Crowe described a situation where the tours make one stop in the county and leave again, adding that this had been happening for years.

He said: “Some of those iconic stops, like Bunratty Castle and the Cliffs of Moher, have been reduced to a photo stop. These trips begin on the quays in Dublin at around 7.30am, and you're back in Dublin for your dinner. You get lunch somewhere in Clare or in Galway.”