Burren Eco-Tourism Network

About the Burren Ecotourism Network (B.E.N.)

The Burren Ecotourism Network (the B.E.N.) is a membership organisation embedded in a sustainable tourism ethos.  It was formally established in 2011. Its purpose is to:

• connect tourism enterprises in the Burren region and enable them to work together to deliver economic, social and environmental benefits, both for themselves and for their communities;
• provide members with training, networking, marketing, business development and partnership opportunities;
• enable members to make an active contribution to the conservation of the region’s natural and cultural heritage.

The B.E.N. mission is to contribute to transforming the Burren region into a truly sustainable destination by being a thought-leader and advocate and by providing learning, development and business opportunities to tourism enterprises.

B.E.N. is a network of tourism businesses with the objective of establishing the Burren as a premier internationally-recognised sustainable tourism region ensuring the future economic and social growth and sustainable development of its communities, environment and heritage. It seeks to support continued training, mentoring and accreditation in sustainable tourism for its members and for businesses interested in joining the Network.

The Burren Ecotourism Network and the management organisation of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark enjoy a special relationship.  Both organisations are committed to the promotion of responsible tourism that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people. Having agreed in late 2012 to pool their resources in pursuit of their common objective, they work together to promote ‘The Burren & Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark’ as a leading sustainable visitor destination, celebrated for high standards in visitor experience, conservation and learning. www.burren.ie

Burren named as Best Community Tourism Project 2021, by Lonely Planet

The Irish tourism world has once again racked up another award in an unprecedented year for travel as Lonely Planet named the Burren EcoTourism Network the Best Community Tourism Project in its Best in Travel picks for 2021.The prestigious publication – long the go-to resource for ambitious and adventurous travellers – has built a global following for its recommendations and insider travel tips, but in recent years it’s turned its focus to the future of travel. And in no year is this more important than this one.

Describing it as “an impressive community collaboration”, the Burren EcoTourism Network is a group of more than 60 local enterprises that over the last few years has transformed Ireland’s Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark into a “global leader for sustainable tourism”.

By focusing on mentoring and training, their goal is to invest in sustainable tourism, a topic that’s of huge importance in a year defined by the outbreak of Covid-19 and massive damage to the travel industry.

“Joining together to promote slow tourism, local engagement and a greater responsibility for a more sustainable future for all in the area”, the publication writes. “All enterprises subscribe to the Burren & Cliffs of Moher Geopark ‘Code of Sustainable Practice’. This is an online platform that measures waste output, water consumption and energy usage and encourages each business to make reductions in these areas. The Code of Practice is the only one of its kind in Ireland.”

Courtesy of Lonely Planet and Go Wild Magazine.