Responsible Tourism Development, Sustainable Tourism Destinations

Cillian believes a sustainable tourism industry can only be created through prioritizing community involvement in destination development. Co-founder of Loop Head Tourism, a multi award winning Irish responsible tourism destination. He has spoken many times on this topic including at World Travel Market and The World Bank Group Tourism Forum in Washington.

Cillian has provided advice and worked with many communities, local authorities and destination management organisations throughout Ireland and internationally, including Munster Vales, Visit Lofoten, Central Counties Tourism, Canada, and The National Trust Northern Ireland.

Holding an MSc in Responsible Tourism, Cillian has developed a practical, place based, methodology which puts the host community at the very centre of the destination development process. He is passionate about empowering and capacity building communities so they better understand the role tourism can play in their sustainability, the value of the assets they have, and to whom and when it is appropriate for those assets to be sold.

Cillian was also county councillor for the West Clare Municipal District in County Clare from 2019 – 2024, and currently works as a parliamentary assistant and advisor to Deputy Joe Cooney, elected member for County Clare in Dail Eireann, Irelands national parliament. He is a member of Clare County Councils Green Team, the first countywide certified (GSTC) sustainable tourism destination in Ireland.