Event Brings Students Closer To North Wales’ Booming Tourism Industry

The next generation of tourism leaders got to hear about attractions at the forefront of the £2 billion tourism industry in North Wales at an inaugural event. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Wrexham Glyndwr University’s North Wales Business School hosted its first Tourism and Events Conference on Friday November 11. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Attended by students from the university plus more from Coleg Cambria and Grwp Llandrillo Menai, the event featured speakers from six organisations involved in the region’s tourism industry. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

These included North Wales Tourism/Go Wales, International Sporting Events (Wales Rally GB), Wrexham Council, Holden Media, Conwy Council and Nightingale House Hospice, which organises the Wales International Balloon Festival. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The conference was designed to introduce students to the world of tourism and event management and some of the employment opportunities available in the industry. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Jacqueline Hughes-Lundy, programme leader for hospitality, tourism and events management at Wrexham Glyndwr University, said: “The event was about giving Wrexham Glyndwr University students and those from two sixth forms in North Wales the chance to hear first-hand about the tourism industry in the region. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The recent recognition by Lonely Planet as the fourth best region in the world to visit in 2017 and Llandudno’s Trip Advisor placing as fourth best destination in the UK very much reflects the improvements which have been made in North Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Tourism is one of the biggest employers in North Wales and there are many jobs out there for students. The conference hopefully opened their eyes to the number of different opportunities available to them.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The conference was opened by Jim Jones (pictured), of North Wales Tourism, who outlined how 3340 businesses directly involved in the tourism industry contribute £2.88 billion a year to the North Wales economy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He said: “As well as the economic boost which the industry provides, it employs 28,400 people across North Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“From the work we’ve done with businesses, they view strong customer service skills as essential to delivering excellence and achieving growth. These are skills which I am sure current students can provide the industry with in future.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​