Visitor numbers at Bunratty Castle and folk park centre will be down by 40,000 on last year because of the impact of foot-and-mouth, according to Mr John King, director of tourism and heritage with Shannon Development.
Last year the castle and park received 370,000 daytime visitors, making the centre one of the biggest tourist attractions. A sluggish US economy had contributed to the downturn but there were also fewer British, German and Italian visitors. "We are showing a 10 per cent decline in visitor numbers," he said.
A recent survey of 140 companies in tourism in the region found that three out of four had experienced a downturn in business this summer.
Ms Pauline Roberts, the chairwoman of the Clare Tourism Council, said the first blow Ennis guest houses received was the cancellation of the two-week World Irish Dancing Championships in May. "Every one of those deposits had to be sent back," she said. "It is very hard for people who have invested heavily in their premises."
Business up to the end of July had declined by as much as 40 per cent and was the worst in recent years. "The past two weeks were grand, but are there two more weeks in it?"
But Mr Tom Kane, of the five-star Adare Manor Hotel, whose chief guest this summer was Tiger Woods, said his business was largely unaffected.