New projects announced to get Year of Discovery underway
Deputy Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport, Lord Elis-Thomas has kick-started Year of Discovery 2019 with visits to new tourism experiences in west Wales.
This fourth themed year will give people compelling reasons to visit Wales while being encouraged to rediscover Wales and find something new about Wales and about themselves.
The Deputy Minister, said: “By coming together and working in partnership, our themed years have given Wales a strong voice – in a very competitive marketplace. We know that our themed year campaigns are generating over £350m a year for the economy.
“We’ve had a great start to the year with the Sunday Times Magazine choosing Wales as one of the rising stars of 2019."
The Minister visited the team at Fforest, Cilgerran who are celebrating 12 years since starting the business. The team has recently revealed a new project for 2019, in collaboration with The Representative Body of the Church in Wales, which has been supported through the Welsh Government’s Tourism Product Innovation Fund. Read more here.
Wales has also been named this month within the top ten most beautiful countries in the world by Rough Guides readers, highlighting 2019 as the perfect year to discover Wales.
Wales representative to VisitBritain Board selected
Following a full and open public appointment process the Minister for Culture Sport and Tourism, Lord Elis-Thomas has selected Ian Edwards for the role of Wales’ representative on the Board of VisitBritain.
Ian Edwards is CEO of both the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, south east Wales, which hosted the 2010 Ryder Cup and staged the 2014 NATO Summit; and the new International Conference Centre for Wales which is to open early this year and based within the resort site. Ian was named Hotelier of the Year at the 2015 European Hospitality Awards; and was a member of the Welsh Government’s former Ministerial Tourism Advisory Board.
The Minister said, “I’m delighted to appoint Ian to represent Wales on the VisitBritain Board, with Ian’s wealth of knowledge of the tourism industry in Wales and internationally, I’m confident that he will be an asset to the Board, will help in contributing to the overall development of tourism in Wales and help define, develop and scrutinise VisitBritain’s plans and achievements. Never has it been more important to bridge Wales culturally, digitally and physically to the world – and our work with VisitBritain is an important way of building relationships in a bid to grow our share of international visits to Wales.”
As well as representing Wales at VisitBritain Board meetings Ian will also attend the Welsh Government’s Tourism and Marketing Department’s internal Tourism Management Board meetings.
Be prepared for BREXIT
Whilst a lot of uncertainty exists around exactly what Brexit will mean for the trading landscape, businesses will have to deal with a new set of circumstances in the years ahead. Make sure your business is prepared- visit the Brexit Portal for help on how to mitigate the risks, and identify the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Welsh Government is working hard to protect the interests of Wales in the event of a no deal Brexit and in anticipation of concerns about the potential impacts of a no deal Brexit in Wales, has created Preparing Wales website. The website has information for people living in Wales, covering business and the economy, health and social services, education and skills, environment and agriculture, community cohesion, local services and the third sector. Visit the website here.
Welsh in Tourism course
A new online course has been launched as part of the National Centre for Learning Welsh’s ‘Work Welsh’ project allowing those in the tourism and leisure industry to make greater use of Welsh while at work.
The 10 hour ‘Welcome: Tourism’ course is available to all, free of charge and introduces vocabulary, greetings and everyday phrases. Comprising of 10 units there is an emphasis on pronunciation - giving learners an opportunity to practise pronouncing Welsh place names -and it also covers food and drink vocabulary and answering and transferring phone calls in Welsh. Find out more and access the course here.
Education Business Exchange
As part of Visit Wales’ work to promote careers in Tourism and Hospitality we are working with Careers Wales to encourage more businesses in our industry to link with local schools by signing up to the Education Business Exchange (EBE). To find out how the EBE could benefit your business and how you can get involved email Chelsea.crowther@gov.wales.
Visit Wales will be promoting the EBE on @VisitWalesBiz twitter during the week of 11 February 2019 using the hashtag #TourismCareers. Please look out for the hashtag and assist by sharing content.
New chairperson for South East Regional Tourism Forum
A new chairperson has been selected for the South East Regional Tourism Forum. Philippa George has lived in the Vale of Glamorgan for 30 years. Currently the CEO of Pier Group Holdings Ltd, Philippa is also a member of Vale of Glamorgan Destination Management Board and joint Managing Director of Heritage Tourism and Events Ltd trading as Heritage Coast Campsite in Monknash; formed in 2011 and providing Visit Wales 4 star quality glamping, camping, a bar and restaurant.
Philippa has grown her business from a temporary pilot project to a very successful business attracting visitors to the Vale from around the world. The company’s business model encapsulates all that supports a vibrant, viable business providing high quality product and service and recognised by great accolades that include most recently a place in the top 20 UK campsites by The Guardian.
‘Staying Well’ - a gap in the market
A gap in the market has been identified by some tourism operators enabling them to offer extra services and providing an in-road to a market with a person’s wellbeing at its heart.
A ‘short break’ to most hoteliers usually implies a city break or a weekend retreat. But for people who use social services who might be frail, disabled, or vulnerable at home, a ‘short break’ refers to a period of replacement care given in order to provide ‘respite’ for their main carer - usually a family member or a friend.
Holidays to improve personal wellbeing are not new, and academics continue to research the benefits of ‘social tourism’. The tourism sector itself is responding to this largely hidden market, with notable pathfinders like Gwesty Seren in Snowdonia, or (moving into the market) Linc Cymru Housing Association utilising their accommodation to enable ‘stay well’ short breaks for individuals with care needs and their families.
Following work by Bridgend Council, an innovative network led by Linc Cymru, is bringing the Welsh tourism and social care sectors together – with benefits for all. The ‘Stay Well Network’ will next meet in Porthcawl on 22 February and tourism operators interested in benefitting from working with social services are encouraged to attend. Read more and book your place by emailing jean.pearson@linc-cymru.co.uk
Apprenticeships service for employers
Businesses looking to recruit apprentices or use the Apprenticeships Programme in Wales to upskill their workforce can access a specialist service for employers. Funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund, the team appointed by the National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW) will work with employers and interested stakeholders across Wales, with a view to providing a specialist service for all Apprenticeship enquiries and making it easier for employers to engage with the Welsh Government’s Apprenticeship Programme. Find out more here.
Digital and sustainability skills in tourism and hospitality
The Next Tourism Generation Project (NTG) based at Cardiff Metropolitan University is assessing digital and sustainability skills in tourism and hospitality in Wales. Sectors include accommodation, F&B, tour operators and agencies, visitor attractions and destination management.
Your views are important and NTG requests that you complete a short questionnaire here -which closes Monday 4th February 2019. Participants can select the local area to ensure the results can be analysed at the destination level. The results will be shared with trade associations, local authorities, regional skills partnerships, training and educational organisations to inform future course provision. For further information please contact the NTG team on 02920 416475.
Stay up to date with tourism and skills news
Make sure you stay up to date by following us on twitter on @VisitWalesBiz . You can also catch up with news on the Tourism pages of the Welsh Government website and find out more about support for improving skills in tourism here.
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