Tourism Funding Open For Application

Economy Secretary, Ken Skates has announced that funds for tourism projects which will help deliver innovative products linked to Visit Wales’ themed years are now open for application. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

£2.5 million has been made available via the Tourism product Innovation Fund and Regional Tourism engagement Fund to help the private and public sector work together to develop and deliver innovative destination and product led initiatives linked to the Year of Legend in 2017 and the Year of the Sea in 2018. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Economy Secretary, said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“My focus is on supporting the private sector to develop some big ideas – projects which can make a real difference in making Wales a must visit destination and give people compelling reasons to visit Wales. Our focus and objectives for the Year of Legends has been clearly set out to the industry, so I hope to see some new ideas that can help drive the year to be as great a success as the Year of Adventure in 2016. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are already looking forward to the year of the Sea in 2018 – our aim for the year is to celebrate Wales’ epic coast by focusing on the new and innovative 21st century products, events and experiences that tell the fantastic stories of our various coastal destinations.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

One project supported under the current round of funding has been making the headlines with exciting developments for 2017. Run by Best in Wales in partnership with Cambria Tours and George & Tomos Architects – Epic Retreats – is a completely unique hotel that will celebrate Wales’s Year of Legends 2017 by allowing people to enjoy the best landscapes and experiences Wales has to offer while staying in three breath-taking locations in one of eight bespoke cabins, designed specifically for the project. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Reacting to industry feedback and to allow a longer planning period, the Cabinet Secretary has extended the timeframe for the funds to cover two financial years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Both the Tourism Product Innovation Fund (TPIF) and Regional Tourism Engagement Fund (RTEF) are now open for applications. The closing date for the first round of applications is Friday 24th February. A further application round will then be launched at this time next year to commit the remaining budget for 2018-19. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​