Tourism Boom Continues Through Autumn – With Further Awards For Wales

Latest figures show the summer tourism boom on day visits has also extended into the autumn – with more people taking a day trip to Wales and spending more on their trips. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Latest results from the Great Britain Day Visits Survey published today show that the number of tourism day visits made to Wales in the 12 months ending October 2016 has increased by nearly 29% compared to the previous 12 months, while the amount spent has increased by more than 40%. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There were 96.1 million tourism day visits to Wales, with an associated spend of £3,685 million in the twelve months up until October 2016. While the number of trips has also risen at GB level, the increase has been by 11% compared to Wales’ increase of 29%. Spend per visit is now higher in Wales than in GB as a whole, with an average spend of £38 per visit in Wales, compared with £34 per visit across GB. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cabinet Secretary for the Economy and Infrastructure, Ken Skates, said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As one of our measures of tourism performance, it’s extremely good news that such a big increase has been reported in the number of people coming here on day trips and the amount these visitors spend. We had a fantastic spell of weather during October which was sunnier and drier than in 2015, however, the figures show that Wales is still outperforming other areas of the UK – who would have also enjoyed the favourable weather. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This means that our marketing work, the commitment from our industry and the innovative products which we’ve developed is having an impact. This excellent news as we look at bringing the Year of Adventure 2016 in Wales to a close. We’re now looking at working with the industry to deliver an unforgettable Year of Legends in 2017, which will give people even more compelling reasons to visit Wales.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Further good news was announced last night as Wales was named as Best UK Youth Destination category at the British Youth Travel Awards. 16-25 year olds spend £510 million per year on day visits to Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

These awards are co-ordinated by the British Educational Travel Association (BETA) and reward new and innovative products and programmes for young travellers, outstanding examples of customer service and responding to the needs of these important individuals. Shortlisted in the category with Wales was Manchester and Kent. The destination categories were popularity votes and for a 6 week period, BETA members and the wider youth travel industry were voting in high numbers for those destinations that they feel truly deliver a quality experience for young travellers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Economy Secretary continued: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are thrilled to have won this prestigious award, especially in awards that recognise destinations that are working hard in the youth sector. This comes soon after north Wales was listed as one of the top ten destinations in world to visit next year – which is also fantastic recognition of all that Wales has to offer. Our Year of Adventure campaign has certainly appealed to the youth market and if a young person has had a good experience while on holiday in Wales they are likely to return time and again in the future with their friends and family.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mrs Potts, Cardiff, also won best accommodation ‘recognising excellence in youth accommodation in the UK. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​