VisitBritain has published it's report on the IPS figures for April. These show that inbound tourism for the first four months of the year is significantly ahead of 2016 (visits up 11% and spend up 14%). This is above the forecasts that VB made at the beginning of the year which were increases in revenue of 8% and 10% respectively.
There are two particular points of interest – first, the majority of this increase is coming from Holiday visitors which shows that they are making the most of the drop in the value of the pound. Second, the biggest increases are coming from source markets that are furthest away from the UK which shows that a 15% drop in price is more effective in long-haul markets where the price of coming to the UK on holiday is the highest.
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'In January I published, jointly with Plaid Cymru, the Welsh Government’s White Paper “Securing Wales’ Future” which outlined our agenda and priorities for Wales as the UK prepares to leave the European Union (EU). I said then that this marked the beginning of a dialogue, not its end, and signalled my intention to publish a series of further policy documents to extend the debate both here in Wales and the United Kingdom (UK). Today I am publishing the first of those policy documents, “Brexit and Devolution”, which can be found online at: www.gov.wales/brexit.
This policy document builds on positions outlined initially in “Securing Wales’ Future”. We are clear that powers already devolved to Wales will remain devolved after EU exit unless the UK Government specifically legislates to change our devolution settlement. Any such move would be wholly unacceptable. The people of Wales have voted for our powers in two referendums (1997 and 2011) and this must be respected by the UK Government. The Welsh Government readily accepts that, after we have departed the EU, there may be a need to develop binding UK-wide policy frameworks, in some devolved areas, in order to prevent friction within our own internal UK market. The right way to do this will be through the UK Government and devolved administrations sitting down together to discuss and agree frameworks. The Welsh Government will be a willing partner in such an approach. We will not, though, acquiesce in any attempt by the UK Government arbitrarily to constrain powers already devolved. We further believe that leaving the EU creates the need for a new dynamic among the four governments within the UK. It seems clear that there is much we should do together if we are to move forward coherently in our new circumstances. In our view, this four-way collaboration could, and should, be a positive development. It is equally clear that the existing inter-governmental machinery within the UK is not fit-for-purpose in the circumstances. We propose, and describe in outline, the establishment of a UK Council of Ministers as a way of developing a common future agenda rooted in democratic principles. The aim is to respect all, and threaten none. In this context, the policy document is intended as a constructive contribution to the discussions that are needed to develop a strengthened constitutional framework within the UK, which has devolution at its heart. I commend the document to Assembly Members and I will be making an Oral Statement next Tuesday which will enable the ideas to be explored more fully. The final 2016 IPS results which Visit Britain released on the 08/06/17 show a 4% increase in volume and a 2% increase in revenue. It is also of note that the increase in holiday visitors to the UK as a result of the fall in the value of the pound really kicked off in the final quarter of 2016!
Following on from Wales’ success in attracting and hosting global events like the UEFA Champion’s League Final, and the NATO Wales Summit 2014, Economy Secretary, Ken Skates has announced the Welsh Government is planning a new approach to attract leading business events to Wales, further showcasing the destination on an international stage. The Wales stand at The Meetings Show at Olympia (13-15 June) is the first initiative in the development of a dedicated national approach. The Wales stand will include - ICC Wales, Celtic Manor Resort, Visit Cardiff, Vale Resort, Venue Cymru, Cambria DMC, Call of the Wild, Surf Snowdonia and Fforest. Cabinet Secretary for the Economy and Transport, Ken Skates, said: “Wales has built an enviable track record of successfully hosting many of the world’s biggest events and following last weekend’s UEFA Champions League Final – the single biggest sporting event of 2017 – we’re now looking at building on our experience to attract leading business events to Wales. “Wales currently attracts under 2% of the value of business conferences and meetings for the UK as a whole but there is significant potential to draw events from UK and international associations, public & third sector meetings, corporate meetings and team building events to Wales’s award-winning venues and business destinations. “A small dedicated team will be set up with their main goal to attract events aligned with Wales’ key sectors and growth regions being targeted for inward investment, FDI and economic development plus academic, scientific or medical excellence. Wales will be showcased as an agile and innovative nation with a truly global outlook. Synergy with target growth sectors such as Advanced Motor & Manufacturing, Financial & Professional Services and Energy provide real opportunities to attract business events to Wales. “As a compact connected country, Wales can open doors to innovators, industry experts, professors and scientists with genuine insight into their individual field.” This is a pan-Wales initiative, spreading the business event impact across Wales’ economy whilst also benefitting from the momentum provided by ICC Wales and follows VisitBritain’s return to the international business events market, providing further opportunities for Wales. Notes to Editors Supportive comments Heledd Williams, Head of Tourism, Venues and Event Marketing for Visit Cardiff, said: “Cardiff is firmly established on the world stage for hosting prestigious events - historically sporting events - but the Welsh Capital is raising its game in the business sector, with a recent industry survey voting Cardiff as the 6th best location across the UK for holding business conferences and events. “The city is compact and with so many conference venues in close proximity – the city centre is in effect a conference centre. How we market the city to the business community has taken great strides forwards, with marketing tools such as MeetinCardiff.com and the invaluable advice offered through the Cardiff Convention Bureau. “Whether the requirement is for the corporate sector, agencies or associations, it is proven that Cardiff can deliver. The opportunity to grow and further establish ourselves in this sector will be realised through the collaborative approach of the Cardiff Capital Region. “The city may be leading the way in Wales, but our focus has to be wider and with the continued investment and growth of our capital city, the opportunities to further expand and establish ourselves in this sector are vast. Therefore seeing Wales invest further in this sector is great news for the industry, the country and the capital.” Adrian Le Trobe Conference and Events manager – Venue Cymru, said: “Venue Cymru, Llandudno, welcomes that the Welsh Government is fully supportive of the business event market, which is the UK’s 16th largest employer with more than 530,000 directly employed. The economic impact from the direct and indirect spending that these events have on the local economy is phenomenal. “Wales has so much to offer within this industry, therefore it is imperative that, as a nation, we work closely together in order to deliver the best possible events here in Wales. It is vital that we attract international and global events for the country’s continued economic growth and we look forward to working with our partners throughout the country in the coming years.” James Lynch, Fforest Chief said: “We are nothing like a conference centre but we do (almost) everything a conference centre can. And more. Fforest is a place to build fires, kindle reputations and inspire. Each event regardless of scale represents an opportunity to show the very best of Wales, its culture, beauty, local produce. The support of Welsh Government in this important market will provide us with the resources to go the extra mile in creating a country-wide reputation for Wales as a place to meet. This is a market with a high proportion of influencers attending events. I believe that creating and sustaining a reputation for all the great things wales has to offer amongst these visitors will have huge benefits for the general tourism industry and the wider economy as a whole.” Aled Rees, Managing Director at Cambria DMC, said: “As a full service Destination Management Company focused solely on Wales, our aim is to showcase the varied offer that Wales can provide for a business event by creating truly unique and memorable experiences for all business visitors. By sharing our own expertise and working closely with existing venues within Wales, we aspire to elevate current business travel within the country. “Wales not only boasts a selection of world class facilities, but it has a rich culture which allows us to offer innovative bespoke experiences to make any event extraordinary. We are delighted to have the support of the Welsh Government in this crucial market as demand for Wales and for one-of-a-kind events and business travel continues to grow.” Immediate: June 9, 2017 The chairman of the Wales Tourism Alliance believes the hung parliament following the General Election will force Prime Minister Theresa May to engage more widely on Brexit and other key issues. “This may be good practice for the complex negotiations with the EU whose politicians are generally more used to working in coalition and don’t see the absence of an outright majority as a failure,” said Adrian Barsby. “EU negotiations must not be hampered by the election result. The Prime Minister has an opportunity now to ensure a broad church of representation to include the widest possible coalition of views and interests so that the UK’s negotiating position is not interpreted as weakened. “UK PLC must now communicate a coherent plan that ensures our attractiveness post April, 2019 and allows us to compete for global capital, resources and visitors. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) must be a key priority for the UK Government as well as helping devolved governments to secure investment. “The visitor economy will be a crucial economic driver and all Governments need to encourage staycation and overseas visitors, which requires infrastructure funding as well as collaborative marketing “Hopefully, political leaders will reflect on their collective failure and now concentrate on putting the UK before party politics.” He added that, now the election was over, it was great time to visit and holiday in Wales. Whether weary voters were seeking excitement, adventure, peace and solitude, fine food, breathtaking vistas or wishing to experience the culture, Wales was the ideal place to escape to. The WTA represents all sectors of the tourism industry in Wales. Picture caption: Adrian Barsby. Ends For more information please contact either Adrian Barsby, Wales Tourism Alliance chairman, on Tel: 01352 741998 or 07921 787668, Paul Loveluck on Tel: 01686 650818 or Duncan Foulkes, public relations adviser, on Tel: 01686 650818. |