2008 WTA Annual Conference
'Delivering our Potential: Survival and Revival in 2009' was the theme for the 7th WTA Annual Tourism Conference held at the Metropole Hotel, Llandrindod Wells on 2nd/3rd November 2008
Marketing with Momentum, Gearing up with Government; Implementing Investment; Coping with the Crunch and Responding to Rain were the core themes for the 2008 Wales Tourism Alliance Conference.
Julian Burrell, WTA Chairman, called on the Welsh Assembly Government to further recognise the great economic contribution our industry makes to every part of Wales and understand our need for strategic investment to make the most of our unrivalled pan-Wales industry infrastructure.
Keynote speakers on Monday 3rd November were :
David Edwards, VisitBritain - Tourism, the Credit Crunch & Economic Survival
Jonathan Jones, Visit Wales - Government and Industry
Roger Pride, Visit Wales - Marketing, The Year Ahead
Michele Grant, L&R Consulting - WTA's Industry Review: Actions for the Future
Mike Batt, Carbon Trust - Working with the Industry to Cut Costs and Carbon
Sharon Linnard, WAG - Flexible Support for Business
The Wales Industry Dinner on Sunday 2nd November, sponsored by the BHA, has become established as the annual social event for the trade and this year new Tourism Minister, Alun Ffred Jones gave the keynote address.
During his address the Minister noted that firm commitments were outlined in One Wales on working to help develop an industry that can meet the challenges imposed by ever increasing competition and expectations including: to continue to promote Wales actively in external markets; to develop and promote the Wales brand; to support tourism as the market moves towards shorter and activity breaks; to make strategic investments in tourism facilities and skills; to promote Wales's contribution to international sporting events building on the opportunities of the Ryder Cup; and to build on work to raise the international profile of Wales.
The Minister outlined the investment being made by the Assembly Government and the funding available for the tourism industry; he said: “The welcome addition of £4.2m funding for marketing has meant a significant boost to the UK summer and autumn campaigns and will allow a much bigger than anticipated UK campaign in January to kick start early bookings for 2009. It has meant TV campaigns and the expansion of International campaigns. The Single Investment Fund is now open to tourism – potentially tourism operators now have a larger pot”.
In addition to this, support for tourism is also being delivered through the Rural Development Plan. Minister for Rural Affairs, Elin Jones announced in June a package worth £47.8 million over the next three years, with projects encouraging tourism activities and heritage protection being prioritised.
“Tourism is also at the heart of the 15 year £140 million Heads of the Valley Initiative; over the next three years overall investment for tourism in the region of £23 million including £9 million from EU Convergence fund recently announced by Deputy Minister for Regeneration, Leighton Andrews. The Deputy Minister also recently announced £15 million over the next three years for the Mon a Menai Action Plan – a number of projects will be tourism focused; and support for the regeneration of the seaside towns of Rhyl and Colwyn Bay. As we can see tourism is playing a crucial role in many aspects of Welsh life.”