Visit Wales
Encyclopedia
Visit Wales is the Welsh Assembly Government
's tourism team within the Department for Heritage to promote Welsh tourism and assist the tourism industry.
Visit Wales has taken over the functions of the former Wales Tourist Board, an Assembly Sponsored Public Body. The role of Visit Wales is to support the Welsh tourism industry, improve tourism in Wales
and provide the appropriate strategic framework within which private enterprise can achieve sustainable growth and success, so improving the social and economic well being of Wales
. The mission of Visit Wales is to "maximise tourism's contribution to the economic, social and cultural prosperity of Wales".
The baseline budget at the Wales Tourist Board for 2005/2006 was £22.6 million.
that occurs. Approximately 100,000 people in Wales are employed in tourism, representing approximately 9% of the workforce.
Over one million trips are taken to Wales annually by overseas tourists. The UK accounts for 93% of tourism trips to Wales. Seventy percent of UK tourists to Wales come for a holiday, 20% to visit friends or relatives and 7% for a business trip. Fifty percent of trips by UK tourists to Wales go to the countryside or small town
s/villages. The most popular origins of overseas visitors are Republic of Ireland
, USA, and Germany
.
The most popular activities undertaken by tourists in Wales are: walking, swimming, visiting historic attractions such as castles and visiting museums and galleries. The most popular attraction in Wales is the Museum of Welsh Life which attracts over 600,000 visitors annually.
In serviced accommodation in Wales, there are over 80,000 bed spaces available.
This network of centres offers an essential service to the 13 million visitors that come to Wales every year. They are run by over 40 different managing authorities and Visit Wales co-ordinates the network to set and monitor standards of presentation, information and customer care.
23 November 2005 and full transfer of functions into the Welsh Assembly Government was made 1 April 2006. On that day, the Wales Tourist Board ceased to exist.
Welsh Assembly Government
The Welsh Government is the devolved government of Wales. It is accountable to the National Assembly for Wales, the legislature which represents the interests of the people of Wales and makes laws for Wales...
's tourism team within the Department for Heritage to promote Welsh tourism and assist the tourism industry.
Visit Wales has taken over the functions of the former Wales Tourist Board, an Assembly Sponsored Public Body. The role of Visit Wales is to support the Welsh tourism industry, improve tourism in Wales
Tourism in Wales
Wales is an emerging tourist destination, with 8,078,900 visitors to National Trust and Welsh Tourist Board destinations in 2002. The industry has been estimated to have an annual turnover of £3.5 billion....
and provide the appropriate strategic framework within which private enterprise can achieve sustainable growth and success, so improving the social and economic well being of Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. The mission of Visit Wales is to "maximise tourism's contribution to the economic, social and cultural prosperity of Wales".
The baseline budget at the Wales Tourist Board for 2005/2006 was £22.6 million.
Background
Tourists spend over £8 million a day on trips in Wales, amounting to around £3 billion a year. In direct terms, tourism contributes 3.7% of whole-economy value added in Wales. It is important to note that this figure does not include indirect value addedValue added
In economics, the difference between the sale price and the production cost of a product is the value added per unit. Summing value added per unit over all units sold is total value added. Total value added is equivalent to Revenue less Outside Purchases...
that occurs. Approximately 100,000 people in Wales are employed in tourism, representing approximately 9% of the workforce.
Over one million trips are taken to Wales annually by overseas tourists. The UK accounts for 93% of tourism trips to Wales. Seventy percent of UK tourists to Wales come for a holiday, 20% to visit friends or relatives and 7% for a business trip. Fifty percent of trips by UK tourists to Wales go to the countryside or small town
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
s/villages. The most popular origins of overseas visitors are Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, USA, and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
The most popular activities undertaken by tourists in Wales are: walking, swimming, visiting historic attractions such as castles and visiting museums and galleries. The most popular attraction in Wales is the Museum of Welsh Life which attracts over 600,000 visitors annually.
In serviced accommodation in Wales, there are over 80,000 bed spaces available.
Tourist Information Centres
There are 74 tourist information centres around Wales, which often act as the first port of call for visitors, offering local information and accommodation booking services, as well as many other services.This network of centres offers an essential service to the 13 million visitors that come to Wales every year. They are run by over 40 different managing authorities and Visit Wales co-ordinates the network to set and monitor standards of presentation, information and customer care.
History of Wales Tourist Board
The Wales Tourist Board was established in 1969 as a result of the Development of Tourism Act 1969 and its role was enhanced following the Tourism (Overseas promotion) (Wales) Act 1992. An 'Abolition Order' was passed by the National Assembly for WalesNational Assembly for Wales
The National Assembly for Wales is a devolved assembly with power to make legislation in Wales. The Assembly comprises 60 members, who are known as Assembly Members, or AMs...
23 November 2005 and full transfer of functions into the Welsh Assembly Government was made 1 April 2006. On that day, the Wales Tourist Board ceased to exist.
External links
- Welsh Assembly Government - Tourism
- Global website - www.visitwales.com - The official guide to places to stay and things to do in Wales.
- Proper Holidays - visitwales.co.uk - The 2010 Visit Wales campaign website.
- International Business Wales - International Business WalesInternational Business WalesOn Monday 5 July 2010 the Welsh Assembly Government announced plans to transform the way it supports businesses and the Welsh economy. 'Economic Renewal: a new direction’ is a vision to make Wales “one of the best places in the world to live, to work and to thrive”....
offers support for companies looking to expand their business into Wales. Also support companies located in that country with trading with international markets.