The Marble Arch Caves have been awarded a 4-Star Quality Assurance Award by Tourism NI for a second consecutive year.

The independent Quality Grading Scheme for Visitor Experiences, developed by Tourism NI, awards tourist facilities and services with a 1 to 5 star rating to indicate the level of quality a visitor can expect when visiting an attraction or activity.

The 4-Star rating awarded to the Marble Arch Caves means that visitors to the Caves can expect an ‘Excellent’ overall experience.

Incognito visits are carried out every year by a Quality Advisor who samples an authentic customer journey and assesses areas such pre-arrival and arrival experience, overall standard of attraction, catering and retailing opportunities and toilet facilities.

The Marble Arch Caves were assessed in June and have since been awarded its 4-Star ‘Excellent’ visitor experience rating.

Commenting on the 4-Star ‘Excellent’ quality assurance rating, Chairman of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Thomas O’Reilly, said: “I am delighted, yet not surprised, to learn that the Marble Arch Caves have been awarded a 4-Star or ‘Excellent’ visitor experience rating by Tourism NI once again.

“Since opening to the public in 1985, there has been much work and investment by the former Fermanagh District Council and now Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, to provide visitors with a unique opportunity to explore the world underfoot at a world-class visitor facility.

“The 4-Star quality mark is a further endorsement of the high quality experience visitors can expect when they visit the Marble Arch Caves.

“The quality assurance scheme sets an important benchmark which we will strive to maintain and where possible, improve.” The Marble Arch Caves are one of Europe’s finest show caves allowing visitors to explore a fascinating natural underground world of rivers, winding passages and lofty chambers by boat and on foot.

More than 1.5 million visitors from over 100 countries have visited the Marble Arch Caves to explore the million year old cave network since they were opened to the public by the former Fermanagh District Council in 1985.

The Marble Arch Caves are the flagship site within the Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark, a status endorsed by UNESCO to recognise areas of special geological importance.

The Marble Arch Caves were first awarded Geopark status in 2001. Since then the Geopark has expanded significantly, spanning from the northern shores of Lower Lough Erne in County Fermanagh to Lough Oughter in County Cavan, making it the first ever cross-border Global Geopark in the world.

The Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark showcases some of the finest natural landscapes on the island of Ireland.

Guided tours of the Marble Arch Caves take place daily from 10 am to 5 pm in July and August and from 10 am to 4.30pm in September.

For further information please visit www.marblearchcavesgeopark.com or telephone the Marble Arch Caves Visitor Centre on 028 6634 8855.