Skibbereen Tourist Office report for the 2016 season has been published by the local Chamber of Commerce, which managed the staffing of the office, with two local, part-time staff supported by an invaluable panel of about 12 volunteers, who all shared their knowledge with the visitors who called.
Skibbereen Tourist Office report for the 2016 season has been published by the local Chamber of Commerce, which managed the staffing of the office, with two local, part-time staff supported by an invaluable panel of about 12 volunteers, who all shared their knowledge with the visitors who called.
It is positive that the office in 2016 yet again saw an increase in numbers, with 7,538 visitors calling into it, up over 4% on the same comparable period in 2015 with an increasing number of visitors calling year-on-year.
The tourist office opened for the 2016 season for two weekends in March, St Patrick’s weekend and the following (Easter) weekend, an acknowledgment of the importance of the 1916 centenary commemorations which were taking place throughout the country. The office opened for the summer season on Thursday, May 5th, three days a week from 11am to 2pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday during the month.
It opened seven days a week from Monday, May 30th, from 10am to 4pm (including lunch hour) from Monday to Saturday and from 11am to 3pm on Sunday. In July and August, opening hours were extended to 5pm, Monday to Saturday, to facilitate visitors and reverted back to 4pm office closing time during September, with the Skibbereen office closing for the 2016 season on Saturday, October 1st.
It was noted that numbers later in August and in September have been much stronger than in 2015 and the Chamber hopes that the data produced in the report will better inform them as to what hours and periods need particular focus for the office to continue to thrive and best serve our visitors and the local community.
