Lonely Planet has named their best in travel for next year and one of our own has made the list with The Burren EcoTourism nabbing one of the top spots in the community tourism category.
Rounding up over 30 global tourism enterprises, Lonely Planet has compiled a list of what they consider to be the crème de la crème of the travel industry. Awarding prizes under three main categories - sustainability, community, diversity - The Burren EcoTourism in Co Clare was the only Irish spot to feature.
Grabbing the gold for the best community tourism project, the experts commended the initiative for bringing over 70 local enterprises together to transform the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark into a global leader for sustainable tourism.
Established back in 2011, the network is committed to promoting the region through responsible tourism and sustainability - using the locality's unique natural features and raw material to their advantage.
Here's what
Lonely Planet said on the matter:
"To protect this remarkable natural heritage, the Burren EcoTourism Network works diligently to spread the message that popular tourism and sustainability are not mutually exclusive. Through a series of marketing campaigns, the network has promoted slow tourism, local engagement and greater responsibility for all in the area.
"As a result, three destinations in Clare – Loop Head, the Burren Food Trail and the monastic site of Scattery Island – have each been awarded with European Destination of Excellence status for their promotion of sustainable practices, the first Irish county to score a hat trick of awards."
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