Excursion’s Director Of Operations To Visit Carmarthenshire

The Director of Excursions – one of the leading ground handlers for cruise liners – is to visit Carmarthenshire and South West Wales to discuss the potential to add the area to its list of shore itineraries, a move that would bring in thousands of cruise passengers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Excursions is looking to introduce attractions in Wales as part of its cruise offerings from European destinations.
Officers at Carmarthenshire County Council have been working closely with Cruise Wales and Carmarthenshire Tourism Association to host an event for the passengers of the cruise ship the Hanseatic, potentially bringing 175 German cruise ship passengers this autumn to the Gwesty’r Emlyn in Carmarthenshire. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Meryl Gravell, Executive Board Member for regeneration and leisure, said: “Carmarthenshire County Council successfully secured funds from the Welsh Government Regional Engagement Fund to develop a group travel campaign for South West Wales. This has allowed us to target the group and cruise market and create bespoke packages and itineraries for these markets to explore the region, utilising the cultural and historic assets. Carmarthenshire is well positioned to maximise the economic benefit of the cruise market, which has substantially grown over the last 10 years.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Local member, Cllr Hazel Evans, said: “Newcastle Emlyn may be a small town but we have so much for tourists to enjoy. Thousands come every year to explore our picturesque and historical 13th Century Norman Castle, the beautiful walk along the River Teifi and to meander through the wonderful selection of tea shops, cafes, restaurants and shops. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

From the last dragon killed in Wales to the last pistol duel fought in Wales – Newcastle Emlyn.We look forward to working with Visit Wales and Carmarthenshire County Council to ensure a warm welcome to the Director of Excursions.”
Cruise is growing in importance in terms of the visitor economy. Visit Wales has just attended the annual SeaTrade Cruise Global event in the USA in order to raise Wales’s profile as a cruise and water sports destination and look forward to Year of the Sea in 2018. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cruise is now worth nearly £3million to the Welsh economy – 2017 will see 89 cruise calls to Wales with 37,000 passengers and 15,000 crew, an increase in calls of 33 per cent year on year. Wales’s presence at the SeaTrade event has secured further business from new cruise lines who wish to visit Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

An increasing number of visitors from Germany are coming to south west Wales through cruise ships docking at Swansea, Milford Haven Port, Pembroke and Fishguard. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Following Tourism Investment Support Scheme funding for a floating pontoon at Fishguard to allow larger vessels to anchor, Fishguard calls have increased from five in 2015 to 31 for 2017. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cruise Wales is supported by the Welsh Government and is an innovative partnership between the Welsh port authorities, local authorities, attractions and other key stakeholders. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​