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Regulation
Thursday, 31 March 2011
Details have been provided by Environment Agency Wales on how safe the water is to swim in at over 80 beaches around our coast. Downloadable pdf files are available for each beach; each has a bathing water profile which includes a description of the beach and the catchment area, rivers and streams feeding into the site, a pollution management plan and notes on the presence (or otherwise) of algae and seaweed.
For the reports on beaches in North Wales and on the west coast down as far south as Aberdyfi,... Read More
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Digital Tourism
Friday, 01 April 2011
A competitive support scheme is now available for tourism businesses in Wales as part of the Digital Tourism Business Framework Project (DTBF).
The pilot phase of the funding for the creation of Digital Communities and Innovative Pilot Projects has now begun, and applications need to be submitted to Visit Wales by Friday 13 May 2011. Further opportunities for project funding will be available later in 2011 and in subsequent years.
The Digital Tourism Business Framework Project will assist tourism businesses and supporting organisations to adopt new technologies to meet and... Read More
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Self Catering
Thursday, 14 April 2011
An online survey of members conducted by The Welsh Association of Self-Catering Operators (WASCO) has indicated that businesses in the sector are optimistic about business levels in 2011 compared to the previous 12 months.
Only 19% of those responding felt that the position was worse, with 45% considering that business would be at least as good and a further 36% indicating that things were looking better.
Founded in 1995, WASCO represents the interests of the self-catering industry throughout Wales. Its members range from operators of single holiday cottages to large... Read More
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Marketing
Friday, 15 April 2011
The Regional Tourism Partnerships have teamed up with Visit Wales to bring together the newly appointed PR and travel trade agencies for a special series of roadshows in May 2011.
The event is open to anyone from the economy who wishes to meet the new teams and find out more about working with the travel trade and travel journalists.
In addition, travel writer and broadcaster, Simon Calder will make a guest appearnace as the key note speaker at each event.
Booking info and dates as follows:
Tuesday 10 May, 10am... Read More
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General Tourism
Monday, 18 April 2011
The UKTS figures for Wales for the months of October to December last year show a drop in domestic visitor trips by some 11% compared to the same period in 2009; bednights declined by 7% but expenditure held up in nominal terms with a 3% increase - which is approximately the same increase as inflation.
The weather in December was no doubt the cause of the number of domestic overnight tourism trips made in the UK as a whole falling by 22% for that month compared with December 2009 with... Read More
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Assembly Elections 2011
Wednesday, 20 April 2011
As campaigning continues ahead of the Assembly Election on 5 May, we are publishing brief extracts from the four main party manifestos of relevance to tourism. To find full versions, visit the website links under each party name.
WELSH CONSERVATIVES
http://www.welshconservatives.com/2011-manifesto
Tourism
• Ensure that small tourist operators pay no business rates.
• Boost the marketing of Wales as a destination in the home and international markets.
• Promote Welsh food and drink and other key growth markets like walking, fishing and country sports.
• Publish a Religious Heritage Strategy... Read More
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General Tourism
Thursday, 21 April 2011
Our YouTube channel is now up and running and you can see WTA chairman, Chris Osborne explaining the role of the Alliance via this link and what we have been up to over the past year via this link.... Read More
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Assembly Elections 2011
Saturday, 30 April 2011
Less than a week remains before the Assembly elections. What are the differences between the parties on Tourism policy?
See WTA’s hustings with all four party tourism spokespeople and make up your own mind.
The top table is: Alun Ffred Jones (Tourism Minister and Plaid Cymru); Ufi Ibrahim (Chief Executive, BHA); WTA’s Chair Chris Osborne; Labour’s Alun Davies; Conservative spokesperson David Melding and Liberal Democrat Heritage Spokesperson, Eleanor Burnham.
Can't view this Flash version of the video? Try viewing at http://vimeo.com/walestourismalliance/tourism-hustings... Read More
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General Tourism
Wednesday, 04 May 2011
A comprehensive Economic Impact Study of the 2010 Ryder Cup golf tournament, which took place at the Celtic Manor Resort in Wales, has valued the economic impact for the host nation at £82.4 million. This study took account of money spent on local travel, on-site spend, off-site spend, any extension to a visitor’s stay (excluding the unexpected extra Monday) and associated additional spend.
Visit Wales ran a fully integrated marketing campaign to maximise the benefits of hosting the Ryder Cup for the country’s tourism industry. The value of the golf... Read More
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Other
Tuesday, 12 April 2011
Welcome to our new look Wales Tourism Alliance website…it’s taken us a while, but we decided to take the plunge and embrace a new way of communicating. Our role as the voice of the industry in Wales has not changed of course, but the way we deliver news in this fast changing world of ours has.
So let’s have a quick look round…well first thing to note is our mantra, keep it simple which underlies everything we intend to do in here. There is basically one news centre and your... Read More
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Assembly Elections 2011
Friday, 06 May 2011
Carwyn Jones has already indicated that Labour will look at alternatives for governing and will consider going it alone with arrangements with other parties on key legislation/policy issues but a more formal arrangement perhaps with another party has not been ruled out. What were their ‘tourism’ promises? Will they be able to deliver?
Welsh Labour’s goal stated in its manifesto ‘is to implement and further integrate our economic, education, skills and planning policies across all relevant Assembly Government departments and other delivery bodies. The overarching priority over the next Assembly... Read More
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Energy Performance Certificates
Monday, 09 May 2011
The current situation would appear to be that the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) at Westminster are adamant that the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations enable them to require an EPC for a property rented out as a holiday let.
Enforcement is a matter for Trading Standards Officers but the Policy Officer for Fair Trading, Local Government Regulation, (LRG) the organisation representing TSOs in England and Wales, does not agree. “It is LG Regulation’s and TSI’s (Trading Standards Institute) view that until this requirement is clearly specified in... Read More
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UK Government
Tuesday, 10 May 2011
Former Whitbread Chief Executive Alan Parker CBE has agreed to become the champion for this theme ensuring that it delivers real results quickly. He has also agreed to take on a longer term role as Head of the Tourism Regulation Taskforce ensuring that the wider barriers identified in the tourism strategy are dismantled.
This work will focus on providing:
coherence to tourism and hospitality industry views;
a forum for other interested parties to engage (e.g. consumer interests, enforcement authorities);
a chance to identify and review proposed regulations at both the... Read More
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Training & Development
Sunday, 08 May 2011
Applications are being invited by the tourism Society for the their annual Professional Development Award. Find out more by reading the article below.
Purpose of Award
To provide the opportunity for an individual working within the tourism and hospitality industry in Wales to develop a project which will progress tourism in Wales. The Award will be made annually to a maximum value of £5000.
Criteria
Applications from operators of individually owned tourism businesses in Wales would be particularly welcomed for 2011. Generally applications will be expected to be innovative and... Read More
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VAT
Thursday, 19 May 2011
The Irish Minister for Finance has announced VAT rate cuts for the travel and tourism industries for the period 1st July 2011 to 31st December 2013.
VAT on restaurants, hotels and tourist attractions will be cut from 13.5% to 9%. The scope of this reduced VAT rate extends to cinemas, theatres, sporting events, golf fees, newspapers and magazines due to their links with the tourism industry. This measure sits with a cut to the €3 Air Travel Tax, on the condition that airlines use it to boost passenger numbers and open new routes.
... Read More
