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CONTENTS: Shaping the Future of the tourism industry; Funding stimulus for tourism; Cruise Wales calendar; Wales Tourism Week; inclusive working for older workforce; ABP Newport Wales Marathon; Consultations; Water abstraction changes
REMINDER: Help us Shape the Future of the Tourism Industry in Wales
In 2020 our current strategy for tourism called Partnership for Growth, comes to an end and so this is the ideal time to consider progress and plan the way forward – a summary of our achievements can be viewed here . As part of our work towards developing the next set of priorities we want to continue to work with the tourism industry in Wales and the wider visitor economy to explore the challenges and opportunities that face the industry. We want you to help us develop ambitious new ideas for the future and help us to make difficult decisions about how best to focus our resources.
To assist with this, there are 10 questions we are asking you to initially think about as we plan ahead. Your responses will shape the discussion and help us to develop a uniquely Welsh action plan for the future of Tourism. You can find out more here.
So please join in the conversation; start by taking a look at the thought provoking key ten questions in our Let’s Shape the Future document and view the short film showcasing the thoughts of some sector stakeholders to stimulate your own ideas. You don't need to answer all 10 questions but your views are important to us so please provide your feedback here. Closes 31 May 2019. To provide your views on any specific topic or issue relating to tourism you can email us on future.tourism@gov.wales.
Please also keep an eye on @VisitWalesBiz twitter and help us engage by sharing and using #FutureWalesTourism
Micro and Small Business Fund stimulus for tourism
From luxurious camping to a five star restaurant with rooms and an historic inn - new and refreshed hospitality businesses have opened their doors ahead of the new tourism season with support from the EU funded Micro and Small Business Fund (MSBF):
Sandy Mount House in Rhosneigr received a Visit Wales 5 star Restaurant with Rooms accreditation before Easter and were also awarded a Visit Wales Gold Award - an annual list which recognises accommodation business offering the highest standards of quality, exceptional comfort and hospitality.
The development received funding of £260,000 from MSBF - which is funded through the Welsh Government Rural Communities - Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
In Ceredigion, Canvas and Campfires has recently opened for business with five luxurious safari tents, where visitors can enjoy a luxury camping experience. The project was awarded £25,000 from the Micro and Small Business Fund.
The Three Eagles Llangollen - an historic inn at the heart of Llangollen thoughtfully restored to provide a new restaurant and bar for the town £120,000 support from the MSBF- opened its doors at the end of December 2018 and has gone from strength to strength.
Since 2017 £3.3 million has been offered to tourism businesses under the Micro and Small Business Fund. Read more.
Cruise Wales – when is a ship docking near you?
 Cardiff has welcomed the first cruise turnaround call of the season in Wales as the Marco Polo - an 800 passenger ship operated by Cruise and Maritime Voyages – docked in Cardiff Bay and explored the area over the Easter bank holiday.
The cruise ship market is big business for Wales, with Cruise Wales and partners working hard to grow the market; including promoting the sector for Wales at the recent Seatrade cruise Global 2019 conference – the largest cruise industry gathering in the world.
In addition to Cardiff, cruise visitors will experience other regions of Wales with cruise ships docking at Milford Haven Port, Pembroke, Fishguard and Holyhead in north Wales. Wales will see more than 45,000 cruise passengers visit in 2019.
Take a look at the current calendar of cruise calls to Wales to find out when a ship will be docking near you and be ready to provide visitors with an unforgettable experience providing a real sense of place (tips here).
Wales Tourism Week 2019, Sat 11- Sun 19 May: Register your event
With this year’s Wales Tourism Week fast approaching the Wales Tourism Alliance (WTA) is calling for events that celebrate our industry’s huge economic contribution to the Welsh Economy. The theme for this year is ‘Strength through Partnership - Team Wales’.
The WTA, along with its partners, annually calls on tourism organisations and businesses across the country to organise events during the week that promote the value of partnership, highlight its revenue generating value and career opportunities. Therefore however big or small, please register your event. Find out more and complete the online form to register your event here and please use #walestourismweek and #wythnosdwristiaethcymru to share updates and pictures on social media.
People don’t have a best before date!
Our workforce is getting older - 1 in 3 people of working age reaching 50 or over in 5 years’ time – and people's attitudes to working in later life can be shaped by wider influences, such as:
- people are living longer and staying fitter
- there is no longer a default retirement age
- changes to pension arrangements
in the next ten years UK businesses will need to fill 13.5 million job vacancies and with only 7 million young people leaving school and college, older workers will increasingly be an important part of the workforce and businesses will need to make the most of their potential
Ultimately, older workers are vital for the future of our economy and our businesses and we need to challenge our perceptions of an older person and their capabilities. Surprisingly to some, the definition of an older worker is someone who is age 50 or above.
An ageing population and workforce means that making work more inclusive for older workers will be increasingly important for employees, employers and the economy.
Take a look at some case studies and research that show the reality of what older employees can bring to business and find out more about skills in tourism here.
Be ready! The ABP Newport Wales Marathon, taking place on Sunday 5 May is a national marathon for Wales, boasting a fast, scenic route – arguably one of the UK’s flattest marathons – with over 70% of participants claiming a PB in 2018.
Starting and finishing on Newport’s vibrant riverfront – the route offers iconic landmarks, coastal wildlife, picturesque medieval villages and a high-profile opportunity for locals and visitors alike to experience the recently regenerated city-centre.
The much-anticipated race has satisfied the demand for a premier marathon distance mass-participation event in Wales, made possible by the support of Associated British Ports, Newport City Council and the Welsh Government. Nearly 10,000 runners have signed up to take on Marathon, 10K and Family Mile in 2018, which attracts some of the UK’s top athletes.
The event is delivered by Run 4 Wales, the team behind mass participation events like the Cardiff Half Marathon. Find out more here.
A consultation on the new best-practice guidance on the protection and management of the historic environment of Wales has been launched and views are welcomed by 3 June 2019.
To participate, take a look at the draft guidance document and consultation response form here.
A 12-week public consultation has been launched on new best-practice guidance on providing easy access to listed buildings in Wales.
Take a look at the draft guidance document and complete the consultation response form here. Consultation closes on 19 July 2019.
On the 1 January 2018, water abstraction rules changed so that most previously exempt abstractions (taking water directly from surface water, such as rivers, or ground water, such as boreholes) became licensable.
Most previously exempt abstractions (if over 20m3/day) now require a licence to continue legally abstracting water; including the previously geographically exempt groundwater areas that covered a significant proportion of North, West and South West Wales.
If you wish to continue to abstract as you have done during the seven-year qualifying period (1st January 2011 and 31st December 2017), you need to submit a valid transitional water resources licence application to National Resources Wales by 31st December 2019.
Find out more about the changes and how to apply here and for queries on how to comply with the changes please email enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk or call 0300 065 3000.
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