Football A Factor In Attracting Visitors To Swansea

Football’s importance in attracting overseas visitors to Wales has been revealed. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In a Visit Britain survey, Wales is in the top three regions where football was on people’s itineraries, with an average spend of £855 per spectator. The Northeast and Northwest of England join Wales in the top three. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The survey also found two out of five visitors to Britain watched live sport during their trip, with 73% choosing football. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Swansea Council says the survey results show how important Premier League status is for the city. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Cabinet Member for Enterprise, Development and Regeneration, said: “We’re Wales’ only Premier League city, so it’s inevitable that Swansea will be first choice for overseas visitors coming to Wales to watch football because of regular fixtures against the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal at the Liberty Stadium. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“When these visitors are here, they spend their money in our hotels, bed and breakfasts, restaurants, shops, pubs and other businesses, which creates jobs, further boosts a tourism industry that’s worth over £400m to the local economy and encourages return visits in future. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“When setting its annual budget, the council makes sure there’s an investment to improve facilities for tourists and develop innovative campaigns to attract more visitors here than ever before. Tourism supports more than 5,700 jobs in Swansea, so this investment is important for local residents and local businesses too. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The availability of top flight football in Swansea can lead to private sector investment as well, with Visit Britain figures showing 40,000 international business visitors a year finding time to watch a live match in Wales, England and Scotland. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Football is very much part of Swansea’s culture, so it will be among a number of important factors in our bid for UK City of Culture 2021.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Visit Swansea Bay’s official tourism website has been refreshed and given a new look for 2017. The site, which received almost two million page views last year, is set to attract even more visitors to Swansea Bay, Mumbles and Gower by offering a better user experience. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Swansea Council investment in the website has enabled the tourism team to showcase new and inspirational destination images, while giving visitors more detailed information on the area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The site is also promoting the new ‘Legends’ video, which forms part of the council’s Legendary Adventures campaign, supporting the Visit Wales ‘Year of Legends’ running throughout 2017. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​