Light-touch development proposed to enhance Keem Bay visitor experience

Light-touch and sustainable development of Keem Bay is the preferred route to managing visitor numbers to the Achill beauty spot while also making it an enjoyable experience according to specialists in tourism development.

Mayo County Council hosted a public consultation day on the development of a future Visitor Management & Sustainable Development Plan for Keem in Gielty's Bar in Dooagh on Tuesday with close to 100 people attending throughout the day.

The council employed the services of Toposophy, leaders in destination development, management and marketing, to implement a plan for Keem.

Senior Project Specialist with Toposophy, Chris Armstrong told The Mayo News that he has been working on the Keem project since May and having visited Keem in the summer and talked to local people, he does not believe there is an appetite or a need for large scale development at Keem.

“From my point of view and from chatting to local people today and over the course of the last couple of weeks and months I feel people are coming to Keem for the natural beauty and the untouched landscape. It is breathtaking enough as it is.

“What we are putting forward are low impact and light-touch sustainable development proposals for the beach area and the car park and how we manage the visitors. Everyone is very keen that we don't lose the main focus on why people are there and that is nature. Anything that is done is done for nature first and we build the visitor experiences around that,” he explained.

In 2015, it was proposed to develop a €3 million Signature Discovery Point which would incorporate a skywalk viewing platform and walkway looking over Keem Bay. The project was never developed and Mr Armstrong does not envisage it being part of any future plans for Keem.

A proposal from 2015 to develop a skywalk over Keem Bay will not be part of future plans for Keem Bay

“I think the walkway was put there at a point in time and seen as an opportunity to maximise the potential of Keem. In the last couple of years there has been a sea change in terms of tourism and nature and how we market and promote and develop these sites.

“I certainly feel from listening to local people there isn't a groundswell of support for a project such as that anymore. It's more about how we promote the uniqueness of Keem as a beauty spot and do that in a way which is light-touch and low impact and sustainable.

“I don't see a multi million pound glass walkway at this stage and I don't know if that is what visitors are looking for anymore. They are looking for real and authentic and Keem delivers that in spades,” he explained.

During the summer months, Keem Bay is one of the busiest spots in the county but this has led to traffic congestion and the road to Keem being closed to traffic by An Garda Siochána. There have also been issues regarding wild camping and littering during busy times of the year.

Mr Armstrong said that some of his recommendations include making adaptations to the existing car parks and the introduction of a dedicated shuttle bus system to ease traffic. He added that the implementation of better signage and a Keem Bay warden service during peak times will ensure there is a better visitor experience for tourists and locals alike.

“I don't think that anyone who comes down to Keem is looking to cause any issues. We need to better inform visitors and locals on how to protect and look after the landscape when they visit,” he said.

Mr Armstrong said that consultation days with locals is very important to get a gauge of public opinion and added that he could sense the passion the local people have for Keem.

“You hear snippets of gold dust from local people which only local people know. These days give a sense of ownership back to local people so there is nothing that is going to be developed here that isn't put to local people first. You hear their thoughts and we tailor our development opportunities specific to what people are telling us.

“My plan is to go away and write up a practical action plan for the sustainable development of Keem and hopefully it is something the council can take forward and coordinate the delivery of it.”