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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Weather blamed for mixed season | Weather blamed for mixed season |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Many tourism businesses in Wales are blaming the bad weather as new figures have revealed a mixed summer for the industry. | Many tourism businesses in Wales are blaming the bad weather as new figures have revealed a mixed summer for the industry. |
| More than 200 were asked how business had been over the summer months for the Welsh Assembly Government survey. | More than 200 were asked how business had been over the summer months for the Welsh Assembly Government survey. |
| Two-thirds said their turnover had been the same - or better - than the previous year. | Two-thirds said their turnover had been the same - or better - than the previous year. |
| However, 40% said the number of visitors was down with the vast majority blaming the bad weather. | However, 40% said the number of visitors was down with the vast majority blaming the bad weather. |
| This summer appears to have been Britain's wettest since rainfall records began in 1914, according to provisional data from the UK's Met Office. | This summer appears to have been Britain's wettest since rainfall records began in 1914, according to provisional data from the UK's Met Office. |
| If you minus a couple of hundred people who are normally around to buy drinks and food then that is going to make a difference to the whole area Jayne Wainwright | If you minus a couple of hundred people who are normally around to buy drinks and food then that is going to make a difference to the whole area Jayne Wainwright |
| Although the record rainfall was driven by conditions in England, parts of Powys and the Vale of Glamorgan were among areas of Wales hit by flooding. | Although the record rainfall was driven by conditions in England, parts of Powys and the Vale of Glamorgan were among areas of Wales hit by flooding. |
| One Llandudno hotelier said the bad weather had ruined what should have been a good year. | One Llandudno hotelier said the bad weather had ruined what should have been a good year. |
| Margaret Longmire Bounds, who runs the Waverley Hotel said: "Unless we get a really good September to make up for a very, very bad July, it will not be a good season at all." | Margaret Longmire Bounds, who runs the Waverley Hotel said: "Unless we get a really good September to make up for a very, very bad July, it will not be a good season at all." |
| Jayne Wainwright, the director of the Tyn y Coed Inn in Capel Curig said business had been "up and down" through the season, "mostly due to the bad weather". | Jayne Wainwright, the director of the Tyn y Coed Inn in Capel Curig said business had been "up and down" through the season, "mostly due to the bad weather". |
| "Out-door people in general are fairly robust and tend to go on holiday whatever the weather's like, so we've probably done a lot better than the seaside areas," Ms Wainwright said. | "Out-door people in general are fairly robust and tend to go on holiday whatever the weather's like, so we've probably done a lot better than the seaside areas," Ms Wainwright said. |
| However, on a couple of occasions local campsites had been "underwater", she said. | However, on a couple of occasions local campsites had been "underwater", she said. |
| The seaside resort of Barry was hit by flash floods | The seaside resort of Barry was hit by flash floods |
| "If you minus a couple of hundred people who are normally around to buy drinks and food then that is going to make a difference to the whole area." | "If you minus a couple of hundred people who are normally around to buy drinks and food then that is going to make a difference to the whole area." |
| But despite the weather, 59% of respondents to the Visit Wales survey said they had had the same number - or more - visitors than the previous year. | But despite the weather, 59% of respondents to the Visit Wales survey said they had had the same number - or more - visitors than the previous year. |
| The National Botanic Garden of Wales in Carmarthenshire said visitors had increased by 9% on the previous July - and 12% on those in August 2006. | The National Botanic Garden of Wales in Carmarthenshire said visitors had increased by 9% on the previous July - and 12% on those in August 2006. |
| Head of operations Ray Butt, said it had been a "very busy and excellent season". | Head of operations Ray Butt, said it had been a "very busy and excellent season". |
| Heritage Minister Rhodri Glyn Thomas said: "Given the appalling weather of June and July, I don't think that anyone is surprised that there has been a dip in the fortunes of some tourism operators." | Heritage Minister Rhodri Glyn Thomas said: "Given the appalling weather of June and July, I don't think that anyone is surprised that there has been a dip in the fortunes of some tourism operators." |
| 'More resilient' | 'More resilient' |
| Mr Thomas added he was "heartened" by the level of confidence the industry had shown at prospects for the autumn. | Mr Thomas added he was "heartened" by the level of confidence the industry had shown at prospects for the autumn. |
| The minister said he was not worried 2007's wet summer would keep visitors away. | |
| "Most people will see that the law of averages probably tells us that next year will be a lot better than this year. | |
| "If they enjoyed their visit to Wales and the weather wasn't too good, hopefully they'll come back and have far better weather next year." | |
| Julian Burrell, chairman of the Wales Tourism Alliance, said the industry had changed over the last five years and was not so reliant on the weather. | |
| "I think we are a lot more confident industry now, we've got a lot less of the rollercoaster peaks and troughs of business. | "I think we are a lot more confident industry now, we've got a lot less of the rollercoaster peaks and troughs of business. |
| "The wettest summer on record is bound to have some effect, bound to have some effect on people in coastal industries especially so we can't get over that. | "The wettest summer on record is bound to have some effect, bound to have some effect on people in coastal industries especially so we can't get over that. |
| "But, as I say, the industry is a lot more resilient than it used to be." | "But, as I say, the industry is a lot more resilient than it used to be." |
| Mr Burrell added the foot-an-mouth outbreak in Surrey in August had "a very small impact" on Welsh tourism as all agencies had reacted very quickly. | Mr Burrell added the foot-an-mouth outbreak in Surrey in August had "a very small impact" on Welsh tourism as all agencies had reacted very quickly. |