County Clare – Code of Practice for Sustainable Tourism
Helping to Protect What Makes County Clare Special
County Clare is working with tourism businesses across the county to support a more sustainable form of tourism — one that benefits local communities and businesses, protects heritage and the environment, and provides authentic, high-quality experiences for visitors..
The County Clare Code of Practice for Sustainable Tourism is a framework that helps tourism businesses take practical, measurable steps towards more sustainable tourism. It supports businesses to reduce waste, use resources more efficiently, strengthen links with local communities, share Clare’s stories with care, and contribute to the protection of the natural and cultural heritage that makes County Clare special.
The Code builds on the pioneering sustainable tourism work of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark and the Burren Ecotourism Network. It is now used to support tourism businesses across County Clare as part of the county’s wider sustainable tourism journey.
The Code is funded and verified by Clare County Council, externally evaluated by the Atlantic Sustainable Tourism Observatory at Atlantic Technological University Sligo, and recognised by EarthCheck as contributing to County Clare’s Sustainable Destination Certification.
What this means for visitors
When visitors choose a business that has engaged with the County Clare Code of Practice, they are choosing a business that is taking practical steps to support more sustainable tourism in County Clare.
This may include reducing waste, using energy and water more efficiently, supporting local suppliers, improving visitor communication, sharing local stories responsibly, contributing to the community, and helping to care for the landscapes, heritage and places that make County Clare special.
The Code supports continuous improvement in all these actions, helping each business begin from its own starting point and progress over time.
How the Code supports businesses
The County Clare Code of Practice provides an evidence-based framework that helps participating businesses develop environmental policies and sustainability action plans suited to their own operations.
The supporting training and mentoring programme is practical and action-focused. It helps businesses establish baseline information, set targets, and improve performance across areas such as energy, water, wastewater, waste management, heritage interpretation, visitor communication, sustainable transport, local sourcing and conservation.
By taking part, businesses demonstrate their commitment to responsible tourism and provide visitors with greater confidence in the actions they are taking to support County Clare’s sustainable tourism journey.
Participating businesses provide evidence of their actions and progress. This evidence is externally evaluated, and businesses are placed within performance levels that reflect their progress against the Code.
Who stands behind the Code?
The Code of Practice for Sustainable Tourism is supported by Clare County Council and Visit Clare. It builds on the original Geopark Code of Practice developed through the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark and Burren Ecotourism Network.
The Code is:
- Fully funded and verified by Clare County Council and a core criterion for inclusion in the Visit Clare sustainable tourism destination promotional programme.
- Externally evaluated by the Atlantic Sustainable Tourism Observatory, Atlantic Technological University, Sligo.
- Recognised by EarthCheck as a contributor to County Clare’s Sustainable Destination Certification.
- Aligned with Travalyst criteria, supporting recognition across major international booking platforms for accommodation providers.
Where the Code Began – From Geopark beginnings to a county-wide approach
The Code of Practice began as a partnership between the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark and the Burren Ecotourism Network.
The Burren Ecotourism Network is a network of tourism businesses that shared a vision for establishing the Geopark as a leading internationally recognised sustainable tourism region. The original Geopark Code of Practice helped businesses of different sizes and types work to a common set of sustainable tourism principles.
This approach was significant because it raised standards across an entire destination and across a wide range of tourism providers. The success of the partnership has helped shape the wider county approach, with the Clare Tourism Strategy 2030 seeking to build on this work and extend sustainable tourism practice across County Clare.
The Principles Behind the County Clare Code of Practice
Every participating business works towards these six principles as part of their sustainable tourism journey.
The journey from first steps to exemplary sustainable tourism practice
Recognising High Standards in Sustainable Tourism
The County Clare Code of Practice provides a clear and trusted framework for recognising high standards in sustainable tourism. It sets out defined levels that show how sustainability is built into a business, from putting core systems in place to achieving exemplary performance.
Amber status recognises businesses that have established a Sustainability Management System and are starting their journey. Green Level 2 reflects solid performance, with many measures in place and clear opportunities for further improvement. Green Level 1 highlights businesses that have implemented most measures and are operating at a strong standard, with only limited areas to refine. At the highest level, the Emerald Award recognises businesses delivering exemplary sustainable tourism practice and leadership.
All levels are independently assessed and third-party audited, ensuring that they are credible, consistent, and genuinely earned- giving confidence that these standards reflect genuine and real action. For visitors, this means that wherever you see these standards, you can trust you are choosing businesses that support the environment, local communities, and the long-term sustainability of County Clare.
Benefits for participating businesses
Businesses that participate in the Code of Practice can benefit from Visit Clare, EarthCheck and Travalyst recognition, branding and marketing opportunities, higher and measurable sustainable standards, increased co-operation and networking, training and skills support, data and measurement guidance, cost and energy savings, and access to wider national and international sustainable tourism connections.
In April 2026, 69 Burren Ecotourism Network businesses achieved the Code of Practice for Sustainable Tourism Verified Award.
Explore participating businesses
Businesses displaying the badge have committed to the County Clare Code of Practice and have been independently verified as meeting the requirements of the programme.
The badge will appear on verified business profiles on this VisitClare.ie website, helping visitors recognise businesses that are taking practical steps to support more sustainable tourism in County Clare.
