Rainfall fails to deter tourists

Tourism operators have given a cautious welcome to Welsh Assembly Government figures indicating that Wales enjoyed a successful summer.

The survey of 200 tourism firms found that 39% experienced an upturn in custom on last year's figures, while 42% said that trade had got no worse.

But businesses want more to be done to ensure visitors return and some have criticised local authority facilities.

The Welsh Local Government Association said councils had to balance concerns.

There was widespread praise from industry insiders for a worldwide television advertising campaign featuring Welsh comedian Rhod Gilbert, made by Visit Wales, the tourism arm of the assembly government.

They also commended the way the assembly government marketed Wales through major sporting events such as the Millennium Stadium FA Cup finals, the first Ashes test at the Swalec Stadium and the 2010 Ryder Cup.

CASE STUDY Dai Morgan, general manager, Harbourmaster Hotel, Aberaeron "We've been much busier than we thought we were going to be. The summer months in general have been really kind to us and it's just the weather that's been unkind. Business has been as brisk and the hotel has been at or nearly at full occupancy throughout the summer. It's been constant since June and through July, and August has been similar. I suppose we've seen a slight growth each year. We've seen more people from the continent, Ireland and the United States here this year. But there's also been a few more from Wales and England here too, at a time when it's more expensive to travel abroad."

But John Wake, director of the mid Wales tourism partnership and a tourism consultant said that visitors' feedback about facilities like tourist information centres and public toilets in Wales was "underwhelming".

"Many local authorities have closed or cut back their tourist information centres to save costs, but as a result they're cutting the throats of the businesses which depend on them for publicity," said Mr Wake.

"Basic things like public toilets either don't exist at all, or are in revolting conditions, and often shut by five or six o'clock in the afternoon.

"Litter is a major problem in the cities, and in rural areas it's extremely difficult to travel anywhere, thanks to the lack of joined up thinking in public transport."

A Welsh Local Government Association spokesman said a number of tourist information centres had closed in recent years because of a long-term decline in enquiries to the centres.

"Increasingly, tourists visiting Wales are using the internet to access high quality, helpful information about places to stay and visit in Wales prior to their trip," he said.

"Whilst all local authorities prioritise tourism and understand the valuable contribution it makes to Wales economically and culturally, authorities are facing increasing financial pressures and must balance competing local priorities."

Dewi Davies, director of the tourism partnership, north Wales, said businesses were also concerned about the weather following a third consecutive below-par summer.

"This time round we probably did benefit from the predictions of a barbecue summer, which never quite materialised," he said.

TOURISM SURVEY 39% report an increase in guest/visitor numbers 42% achieved same level of business as last year 19% report a decrease 35% report an increase in turnover 45% say turnover stayed the same 46% felt success was due to more people staying in the UK 50%+ camping and caravan firms report increase in numbers 34% reported last minute bookings 36% said visitors were spending slightly less Source: Visit Wales

"But the danger for the future is that the public are now putting less faith in the longer-term forecasts, and holding off on booking until a day or two before in many cases, until they can see for themselves what the weather's going to be like."

The figures show that families are moving away from week or fortnight-long holidays, preferring multiple long weekends instead.

More than half of all Welsh caravan and camp sites reported an increase in profits, but hotels and high-end self-catering accommodation felt the pinch.

Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones said he was delighted by the figures, particularly by those which showed visitors were returning to Wales.

"It is also interesting to note that 20% of those surveyed identified repeat business as a reason for an increase in business, this is very important to the success of the industry as people will return for a quality experience time and again," he said.

Visit Wales launches its autumn campaign, Wales Unpackaged, later.

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