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Image credit: Kev Curtis
Tourism Industry Update
BULLETIN CONTENTS: “Making amazing things happen in unusual and unlikely places”, Economy Minister launches new ambitious events strategy for Wales; Public urged to take precautions as temperatures rise in Wales; Keeping visitors and Wales safe; HSE: Working in hot temperatures guidance; Living Safely with COVID-19: A Keep Wales Safe communications toolkit; Chief Medical Officer reminds people of advice to stop spread of coronavirus (5 July); REMINDER: Update your listing ready for the summer; Wales Coast Explorer app; Exploring reform of the school year; Resilient Communities Grant; Community Ownership Fund 2022
“Making amazing things happen in unusual and unlikely places”, Economy Minister launches new ambitious events strategy for Wales
A new strategy to help create jobs and spread economic prosperity by encouraging a wide range of successful, sustainable and authentically Welsh events right across Wales has been launched by the Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething.
The National Events Strategy for Wales 2022 to 2030 builds on the unprecedented growth of events in Wales over the past two decades.
During that time, Wales has supported events of all shapes and sizes, including major international events such as the Ryder Cup in 2010, Womex 2013, the NATO summit in 2014, Ashes Tests, the UEFA Champions League Final in 2017, and stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race in 2018. We have also attracted world-leading business events such as the International Golf Travel Market and seen the development of distinctive home-grown festivals such as Focus Wales, Tafwyl and Steelhouse.
The new strategy has been developed in partnership with the events industry and is designed to encourage outstanding, cross-Wales events that support the economic, social, cultural and environmental well-being of people, places and the planet. It is aimed at ensuring that events expand on the contribution they make to the seven goals of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act.
The strategy seeks to encourage events of all shapes and sizes that are located in every corner of Wales, spread across all seasons and representative of Welsh culture. Event Wales will now work in partnership with the sector representatives to develop an implementation plan.
Read the announcement in full on Gov.Wales and take a look at This is Events in Wales.
Public urged to take precautions as temperatures rise in Wales
The Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Wales is urging people to take extra precautions and to plan ahead to keep themselves and others safe as the Met Office warns of extreme heat.
The Amber warning, issued for Sunday 17 July, Monday 18 July and Tuesday 19 July, suggests some parts of east Wales could see temperatures reach early to mid-thirties.
The Welsh Government is working with emergency services, local authorities, schools and businesses to keep the public safe during the Met Office warning period.
Find out more on Gov.Wales.
Keeping visitors and Wales safe
At the online session hosted by Visit Wales last year, tourism businesses had the opportunity to hear from the RNLI and AdventureSmart UK on how to help guests and visitors stay safer in the outdoors. Resources from this webinar are still available on Stay Safer in the Outdoors | Business Wales (gov.wales).
With miles of stunning coastline, rivers and lakes to explore in Wales, the RNLI and AdventureSmart UK offers water safety advice and guidance for anyone looking to get out on the water and for getting involved in the numerous water pursuits.
Businesses can also help save lives by championing key water safety messages in local communities across Wales by getting involved in the RNLI local water ambassadors scheme.
HSE: Working in hot temperatures guidance
With temperatures soaring in parts of Wales this week, make sure you have the right advice and guidance to work safely.
It is important to remember the risks of overheating when working in hot conditions.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has plenty of guidance on workplace temperature, including:
Find out more by visiting the HSE’s workplace temperature website.
Living Safely with COVID-19: A Keep Wales Safe communications toolkit
People across Wales are being encouraged to maintain key, protective behaviours – to keep themselves and the people around them safe.
There are actions we can all take to help reduce the risk of catching COVID-19, and other respiratory infections, such as flu, and passing them on to others.
Digital assets are available for you can use on your own channels to support and communicate the guidance.
Chief Medical Officer reminds people of advice to stop spread of coronavirus (5 July)
The Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Sir Frank Atherton is reminding people to follow simple steps to protect themselves from the risk of catching COVID-19.
This includes getting vaccinated, wearing face coverings in crowded indoor settings and taking a lateral flow test if you have symptoms.
His comments came as coronavirus cases are once again increasing in Wales.
Read the announcement in full on Gov.Wales.
REMINDER: Update your listing ready for the summer
Have a listing on visitwales.com? Listings for your accommodation, attractions, activities and events make up a key part of promoting the amazing tourism range we have here in Wales. Products on visitwales.com between them get hundreds of thousands of views per month, tens of thousands of web referrals and thousands of email and telephone enquiries every month.
To give the best impression it’s important that your listing is kept up to date and make the most out of photography and video features to get the best interaction with potential visitors.
Please update your record using your product listing login. If you would like some help logging in, please email Visit Wales Data Steward vw-steward@nvg.net or call 0330 808 9410. For advice and tips on content or to request training or support please email product.database@gov.wales.
Wales Coast Explorer app
The Wales Coast Explorer | Crwydro Arfordir Cymru app is a FREE app for exploring the whole Welsh coastline – from estuary to ocean, beach to clifftop – and builds on the Pembrokeshire Marine Code App, helping people to understand how to avoid disturbing wildlife and damaging habitats, while still enjoying the sights Wales has to offer.
It is the result of a collaboration between Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum and the network of managers who look after Wales’ special Marine Protected Areas, and other partners.
The app can be used to
- Explore: Discover ancient sites and learn how to enjoy Welsh coasts.
- Identify: Plants and animals and other wildlife!
- Record: Become a citizen scientist by sharing sightings.
Read more on Wales Coast Explorer | Crywdro Arfordir Cymru:… | Wild Seas Wales and get involved by letting your visitors know and downloading the app: Wales Coast Explorer | Wild Seas Wales.
Exploring reform of the school year
The Welsh Government is committed to exploring reform of the school day and year to support learner and staff wellbeing, tackle educational inequalities, and align better with patterns of family life and employment.
Following a period of stakeholder engagement and evidence gathering, the Minister for Education and Welsh Language released a Written Statement on 30 June regarding this work. In the statement the Minister shared that there is openness to looking at alternative ways of structuring the school year. While he ruled out changes to the overall number of holidays or reducing the summer break to two or three weeks, the Minister committed to a formal public consultation on the issue during the next academic year.
Recognising that you may have questions regarding the work around the structure of the school year - including how this might impact your sector - we will be engaging with you over the coming period and during the consultation itself, both directly and through our policy colleagues in the Welsh Government.
Resilient Communities Grant
Natural Resource Wales has launched £2m of grant funding to help individuals and organisations increase community participation with nature to build resilient communities.
The Resilient Communities Grant will help deliver projects that give people opportunities for:
- improved mental and physical health
- learning new skills
- being part of safer communities
- more access to nature
- a better awareness of the impact of climate change
- involvement in making decisions about their natural environment
- participation in citizen science
Deadline for applications – before midday 19 September 2022.
Find out more on Natural Resources Wales / Resilient communities grant funding.
Community Ownership Fund 2022
People across Wales will have the chance to become owners of at-risk local pubs, theatres, post offices, sports grounds and corner shops with the launch of the UK Government’s Community Ownership Fund.
Voluntary and community organisations can bid for match funding.
Further details are available on Community Ownership Fund 2022 | Business Wales (gov.wales).
Stay up to date with tourism industry news
Take a look at our latest Visit Wales industry newsletters and bulletins: Tourism Newsletter/Bulletin | Business Wales (gov.wales).
These include the latest tourism industry news from Wales and information for the industry on Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Useful Links
For specific support and advice about dealing with coronavirus, from financial and supply chain planning to advice on staffing issues, we would advise tourism businesses and stakeholders in Wales to visit the Business Wales website or call Business Wales helpline on 03000 6 03000. You should regularly visit the Public Health Wales website for up-to-date public health information for you, your staff and your visitors.
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