Walking And Cycling Seminar For Tourism Businesses

Tourism businesses in Carmarthenshire are being invited to a seminar to find out how they can benefit from the county’s thriving walking and cycling market. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It is being held at The Plough in Rhosmaen, Llandeilo, on Wednesday, March 15 from 10.30am and is being organised by Carmarthenshire Tourism Association, in partnership with Carmarthenshire County Council and funding through the Welsh Government’s Regional Tourism Engagement Fund. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Attendees will receive updates on the council’s cycling strategy and new developments including the refurbishment of the Velodrome at Carmarthen Park, the Tywi Valley Path and a new closed road cycling circuit at Pembrey Country Park. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

They will also hear from experts in the cycling industry including big event organisers and how they can get involved and make the most of the opportunities these types of events bring to the area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Businesses who want to find out more about the Tywi Valley Path can also stay on to take part in a consultation session from 12.45pm to 1.30pm. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The ambitious project will see a 16-mile shared use path created through the scenic Tywi Valley countryside between Carmarthen and Llandeilo and is expected to attract thousands of visitors every year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The path will follow an almost adjacent route to that of the River Tywi, linking in with major tourist attractions and generating between £860,000 and £2million a year in the local economy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Local businesses can find out how they could contribute to the project and benefit from the anticipated 15,000 visitors a year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Members of the public can also attend a ‘drop in’ session between 2pm and 3pm to find out more about the exciting project. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Executive Board Member for Regeneration and Leisure Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “Walking and cycling is already popular with visitors to Carmarthenshire; but with a number of new and exciting developments planned, the county is set to become Wales’ premier destination for cycling, bringing with it major opportunities for our tourism providers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Hopefully this seminar will encourage traders to think of ways of how they can incorporate walking and cycling into their business and work with others to enhance the visitor experience.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Executive Board Member for the Environment Cllr Hazel Evans added: “The Tywi Valley Path will attract thousands of tourists and greatly boost our leisure tourism economy. We are holding this event to give local businesses the opportunity to find out more about the project and how they can benefit. It is also a chance for the public to get more information.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To attend the Tywi Valley Path consultation event please register your interest on Eventbrite. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​