Credit crunch could benefit Wales tourism

The combined effect of a strong euro and the current credit crunch may well be a boost to tourism in Wales as people turn away from expensive holidays abroad, according to recent comments from industry experts.

At the tourism summit in Gwynedd, sponsored by the Welsh Assembly Government, attendees will see a new television advertisement aimed at the domestic market.

The new 40-second advert will be seen on TV and, in a new attempt at getting the message across, in cinemas.

Alun Ffred Jones, the heritage minister, commented that tourists are seeking “real value and authentic quality, not over indulgence and ostentation”.

Ahead of the Caernarfon conference, he added: “This change in holidays is set against the backdrop of economic uncertainty. This is likely to make the market think harder and differently about their holidays choices, we could see a substitution of more expensive foreign holidays to UK holidays.”

In the past two months, the pound has fallen by another 13 per cent against the euro. This is having a knock-on effect of British tourists looking to holidays outside the euro-zone, but Welsh tourism officials are hoping to lure travellers to Wales as well.

Popular radio presenter and comedian Rhod Gilbert is featured in the campaign that includes footage that will be hosted on video-sharing Internet sites.

Thanks to news.bbc.co.uk for the above quotes, for more information on this article please visit their website.

wales.gov.uk