Tourism Industry Update
Year of Croeso Weather-Proofing Fund for Tourism Attractions
As one of our activities to mark the 2025 Year of Croeso, Visit Wales is running a capital grants fund in 2025-26 to support businesses in the tourism attraction sector to invest in weather-proofing measures.
Grants of between £5,000 and £20,000 per project are available to support costs of installing weather-proofing measures which will mitigate the impact of poor weather on trading and on the visitor experience.
The scheme is open to tourism attraction businesses which are SMEs, are accredited under the VAQAS scheme (or are eligible and willing to seek VAQAS accreditation) and have been trading for at least a year.
Weather-proofing measures might include, for example, installation of new covered areas, visitor shelters or areas of hardstanding. Applicants are especially encouraged to consider how their weather-proofing measures might surprise visitors and change perceptions of what visiting the attraction in poor weather might be like.
All expenditure under the scheme will need to be completed by 31 March 2026.
The closing date for applications is 22 May.
Further information is available on the Industry Visit Wales website and in the Welsh Government press notice.
Wales Tourism Summit 2025 and National Tourism Awards for Wales 2025 presentations and assets
Thursday 27 March saw the celebration of tourism in Wales at the Welsh Government’s National Tourism Summit and National Tourism Awards, with tourism and hospitality praised as the “lifeblood of the Welsh economy” creating jobs and driving growth.
The Wales Tourism Summit highlighted the significance of tourism and hospitality for Wales, showcasing how these industries create jobs and stimulate economic growth.
The summit featured insightful presentations, which are available on the Visit Wales Industry website
Later that evening at the National Tourism Awards, the Cabinet Secretary opened the celebration of tourism as part of the Visit Wales Year of Croeso, recognising those who have gone above and beyond in shaping Wales' tourism landscape. Awards were presented to outstanding businesses and individuals. Congratulations to all the finalists and winners!
You can find the full list of winners and highlights from the event on the Visit Wales Industry website. To see pictures from the event, log in to Assets.Wales.com.
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Domestic GB tourism statistics
Statistics for domestic overnight trips taken in Wales in 2024 have now been published. The report contains estimates for the volume and value of domestic overnight tourism trips, as well as information on other topics, such as the types of trips taken, average trip lengths, and type of accommodation used. More details on the Domestic GB tourism statistics (overnight trips): 2024 is available on the Welsh Government website.
Royal Porthcawl wins the Visit Wales Croeso Award for Tourism at the Wales Golf Awards
AIG Women’s Open hosts, Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, have been recognised with the Visit Wales Croeso Award for Tourism at last month’s Wales Golf Awards, held on 21 March at the Ryder Cup venue Celtic Manor Resort.
This accolade celebrates a golf club that offers an outstanding customer experience and helps shape Wales’ reputation as a world-class golfing destination. The award comes in the year the club plays host to the largest women’s sporting event ever held in Wales and prepares to welcome the top women golfers and visitors from around the world to the stunning links course and coastline of South Wales. Tickets for the event are available on AIG Women's Open.
John Edwards, Secretary of Royal Porthcawl said:
“We are thrilled to have won the Visit Wales Croeso Award for Tourism as part of the Wales Golf Awards and to be recognised for our contribution to golf tourism. This summer, we are very much looking forward to welcoming visitors to experience and witness top-class golf in Wales, as golf’s greatest players take on Royal Porthcawl at the AIG Women’s Open. With millions of viewers expected globally, we hope this inspires many to experience Wales firsthand - its rich culture, world-class golf courses, and warm hospitality. We are sincerely grateful for the support of The R&A, Wales Golf, and the Welsh Government.”
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Flexible Skills
Is your business success constrained by current skills within your business? Is your business considering a new business opportunity, new technology, an expansion plan and growth?
Flexible Skills Programme may be able to help you with financial support towards upskilling your staff. Read more on the Flexible Skills Programme on the Business Wales website.
Wales Tourism Week 2025
Wales Tourism Week 2025 is just around the corner, starting on 14 May with the Senedd reception hosted by the Wales Tourism Alliance. More information can be found on the Wales Tourism Alliance website.
Explore the Wales Coast Path this National Walking Month
May is National Walking Month, and it's the perfect time for businesses to attract visitors by promoting the Wales Coast Path. Here are some ideas to help you make the most of this opportunity:
You can also find the latest on WCP and NT Business Survey 2024:Results. More information is available on the Wales Coast Path website.
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Visit Wales Industry is on Facebook and LinkedIn
Visit Wales Industry is now on Facebook and LinkedIn! Please follow our page and connect with us to stay updated on the latest industry news, events, and opportunities.
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Welsh Government Consultations
Welsh Government consultations can be found on Consultations | GOV.WALES.
Business Wales news updates
Make sure you never miss the latest news and blogs from Business Wales - go to: News and Blogs | Business Wales (gov.wales). Some of the latest articles include:
Please subscribe to the Business Wales newsletter at Welsh Government (govdelivery.com) – once signed up, you can sign in and manage all your Welsh Government subscriptions in one place.
Stay up to date with tourism industry news
View previously published Visit Wales industry newsletters and bulletins: Tourism Newsletter/Bulletin | Business Wales (gov.wales).
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