The Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Geopark in County Clare, Ireland, has been recognised as a best practice by the Sustainable EU Tourism project for its integrated and community-driven approach to sustainable destination management and visitor flow regulation.

Since the launch of the GeoparkLIFE project, the destination has developed practical tools and training programmes to build capacity among tourism operators. These include the Code of Practice for Sustainable Tourism, co-developed with the Burren Ecotourism Network, which sets mandatory environmental and social standards for local businesses. This approach has improved the measurement of sustainability performance and supported the establishment of a strong local network aligned with shared sustainability goals.

Visitor management at the Cliffs of Moher has been enhanced through timed entry, dynamic pricing, and pre-booking systems to spread demand and extend visitor stays. Traffic strategies, including combined travel and attraction packages and the introduction of Traffic Ambassadors in 2024, further aim to mitigate congestion and guide tourist behaviour more effectively.

Through skills development, community collaboration, and robust monitoring, the Geopark demonstrates how rural destinations can successfully balance conservation, tourism, and local benefit.

For more details on the key challenges the destination has faced and the solutions implemented to address them, please refer to the attached document.