This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-23580288
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Heatwave helps boost some Wales tourist destinations | Heatwave helps boost some Wales tourist destinations |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Soaring summer temperatures have given a big shot in the arm to many parts of the tourist industry in Wales, early reports suggest. | Soaring summer temperatures have given a big shot in the arm to many parts of the tourist industry in Wales, early reports suggest. |
| Tourist numbers at some of Wales' favourite destinations surged after some of the best July weather in years. | Tourist numbers at some of Wales' favourite destinations surged after some of the best July weather in years. |
| Many camping and caravan sites also reported big increases in visitors. | Many camping and caravan sites also reported big increases in visitors. |
| However, it has not been good news for everybody. Visitors dropped in some areas and some self-catering operators said it had been the hardest year ever. | However, it has not been good news for everybody. Visitors dropped in some areas and some self-catering operators said it had been the hardest year ever. |
| A Visit Wales spokesperson said the hot, sunny July "was a good boost for the tourism industry in Wales" and said businesses "have been reporting that the weather had a positive impact on business with late availability deals being snapped up and day trippers out in force to make the most of the sunshine". | |
| The Camping and Caravan Club saw a 38% rise in bookings at member sites in Wales last month. | The Camping and Caravan Club saw a 38% rise in bookings at member sites in Wales last month. |
| After successive wet summers, the organisation said July's heatwave brought "holidaymakers out in their thousands". | After successive wet summers, the organisation said July's heatwave brought "holidaymakers out in their thousands". |
| 'Just passing through' | 'Just passing through' |
| Spokesman Jon Dale added: "To date, we have seen a significant rise in the number of bookings on our club sites in Wales. | Spokesman Jon Dale added: "To date, we have seen a significant rise in the number of bookings on our club sites in Wales. |
| "In fact, in July, we saw a 38% increase compared to 2012 and we only expect this positive trend to continue." | "In fact, in July, we saw a 38% increase compared to 2012 and we only expect this positive trend to continue." |
| Adrian Greason-Walker, executive director of Wales Tourism Alliance, said camp sites and caravan parks in well-known areas continued to be busy. | Adrian Greason-Walker, executive director of Wales Tourism Alliance, said camp sites and caravan parks in well-known areas continued to be busy. |
| He added: "There are other places that, quite frankly, aren't doing well. | He added: "There are other places that, quite frankly, aren't doing well. |
| "Self-catering hasn't done very well, and we're not quite sure why. | "Self-catering hasn't done very well, and we're not quite sure why. |
| "Some hotels are doing well - particularly in the coastal areas - but further inland it looks like people are just passing through some areas to get to the coast. | "Some hotels are doing well - particularly in the coastal areas - but further inland it looks like people are just passing through some areas to get to the coast. |
| "Secondary spend seems to be down. I have heard from hotels and caravan sites that people aren't spending as much when they get there. That might be to do with the economy." | "Secondary spend seems to be down. I have heard from hotels and caravan sites that people aren't spending as much when they get there. That might be to do with the economy." |
| Rachel Thomas, of Coast and Country Holidays - which rents out holiday cottages - said 2013 was currently "on a par" with last year. | Rachel Thomas, of Coast and Country Holidays - which rents out holiday cottages - said 2013 was currently "on a par" with last year. |
| She said: "A lot of people are complaining in self catering. That's the feeling we get when we're out and about. | She said: "A lot of people are complaining in self catering. That's the feeling we get when we're out and about. |
| "This is the hardest year we've had." | "This is the hardest year we've had." |
| Ms Thomas said she blamed successive bad summers, and people waiting to see what the weather is like rather than booking in advance. | Ms Thomas said she blamed successive bad summers, and people waiting to see what the weather is like rather than booking in advance. |
| She said people were "still coming on holiday," but they are making their decisions late. | She said people were "still coming on holiday," but they are making their decisions late. |
| Asked whether she thought self-catering holiday cottage owners were pricing themselves out of the market, she said: "Some self-catering properties are cheaper than some caravans." | Asked whether she thought self-catering holiday cottage owners were pricing themselves out of the market, she said: "Some self-catering properties are cheaper than some caravans." |
| Roger Burgess, chair of the Wales Association of Self-catering Operators, said some of his members had been letting properties for up to 40 years, and believe business has "never been as bad". | Roger Burgess, chair of the Wales Association of Self-catering Operators, said some of his members had been letting properties for up to 40 years, and believe business has "never been as bad". |
| Although there has been a recent increase in late bookings, he said this year was possibly worse than the washed-out 2012. | Although there has been a recent increase in late bookings, he said this year was possibly worse than the washed-out 2012. |
| Mr Burgess - who rents out a property in Ceredigion - said a number of factors could be to blame, including the price of fuel. | Mr Burgess - who rents out a property in Ceredigion - said a number of factors could be to blame, including the price of fuel. |
| "The one trend we can identify is a significant increase in bookings from the south Wales area, and not so many from further afield. | "The one trend we can identify is a significant increase in bookings from the south Wales area, and not so many from further afield. |
| "I think it's mainly down to the levels of disposable income," he said. | "I think it's mainly down to the levels of disposable income," he said. |
| If the trend continues, he believes some property owners may "call it a day" and stop renting out holiday homes He thinks more needs to be done to market the industry within Wales. | If the trend continues, he believes some property owners may "call it a day" and stop renting out holiday homes He thinks more needs to be done to market the industry within Wales. |
| In some areas, like parts of Gwynedd and Pembrokeshire, he said there is a "over-supply of self-catering properties", with some second home owners now choosing to rent them out because of the economic climate. | In some areas, like parts of Gwynedd and Pembrokeshire, he said there is a "over-supply of self-catering properties", with some second home owners now choosing to rent them out because of the economic climate. |
| John Griffiths, Minister for Culture and Sport, said there had been a 10% increase in visitors to sites run by historical monuments agency Cadw in July, compared to 2012. | John Griffiths, Minister for Culture and Sport, said there had been a 10% increase in visitors to sites run by historical monuments agency Cadw in July, compared to 2012. |
| He added: "What's more, the visitors are spending longer at Cadw sites, as a result of improved on-site interpretation, the programme of summer events, and new and engaging materials designed for families at the monuments." | He added: "What's more, the visitors are spending longer at Cadw sites, as a result of improved on-site interpretation, the programme of summer events, and new and engaging materials designed for families at the monuments." |
| A spokesman for National Trust Wales said it saw a 20% increase in people using its website in June, compared to the previous year. The figure for July rose by 34%. | A spokesman for National Trust Wales said it saw a 20% increase in people using its website in June, compared to the previous year. The figure for July rose by 34%. |
| "There's hard evidence the number of visitors to our website is the greatest it's ever been. The big spike in June and July suggests people are looking for places to go," he added. | "There's hard evidence the number of visitors to our website is the greatest it's ever been. The big spike in June and July suggests people are looking for places to go," he added. |
| 'Bang on track' | 'Bang on track' |
| "The past couple of years with the weather have made it very difficult to gauge what the baseline is. We'll have to wait and see whether it's a good or bad year, but the indication seems to be there's an upturn in visitors coming through the doors compared to recent years." | "The past couple of years with the weather have made it very difficult to gauge what the baseline is. We'll have to wait and see whether it's a good or bad year, but the indication seems to be there's an upturn in visitors coming through the doors compared to recent years." |
| David Hardy, spokesman for the National Botanic Garden of Wales in Carmarthenshire, said: "We're on target for where we want to be. | David Hardy, spokesman for the National Botanic Garden of Wales in Carmarthenshire, said: "We're on target for where we want to be. |
| "In the first fortnight of July this year, we had a 100% increase compared to last year. But that just shows you what a terrible year last year was. I can remember one day when there were 11 people here last year." | "In the first fortnight of July this year, we had a 100% increase compared to last year. But that just shows you what a terrible year last year was. I can remember one day when there were 11 people here last year." |
| He said the run of good weather had meant the gardens were "largely bang on track" with its targets. | He said the run of good weather had meant the gardens were "largely bang on track" with its targets. |
| He added: "Late May, June and July helped make up for a what was a perishing spring. It's easy to forget that April and the beginning of May were freezing." | He added: "Late May, June and July helped make up for a what was a perishing spring. It's easy to forget that April and the beginning of May were freezing." |
| Snowdonia National Park Authority said there was a boost in visitor numbers at the start of July, which compensated for a wet June. | Snowdonia National Park Authority said there was a boost in visitor numbers at the start of July, which compensated for a wet June. |
| However, a spokeswoman added: "On Snowdon itself there was a small surge at the beginning of July when the good weather began, but unexpectedly the mountain wasn't as as busy as people might have expected, because we think people might have gone to the beaches." | However, a spokeswoman added: "On Snowdon itself there was a small surge at the beginning of July when the good weather began, but unexpectedly the mountain wasn't as as busy as people might have expected, because we think people might have gone to the beaches." |
| Hot weather has also had a negative effect on some of Wales' museums. | Hot weather has also had a negative effect on some of Wales' museums. |
| A National Museum Wales spokesman said wet weather in June saw figures drop when compared to last year. | A National Museum Wales spokesman said wet weather in June saw figures drop when compared to last year. |
| He added: "As visitors flocked to the coast and rural areas to enjoy the July heatwave, some of the national museums saw a drop in figures." | He added: "As visitors flocked to the coast and rural areas to enjoy the July heatwave, some of the national museums saw a drop in figures." |
| Figures show that St Fagans National History Museum in Cardiff saw visitor numbers drop from 86,202 in July 2012 to 59,403 last month. | Figures show that St Fagans National History Museum in Cardiff saw visitor numbers drop from 86,202 in July 2012 to 59,403 last month. |
| Visit Wales said a new strategy had recently been launched which would see more marketing in Wales, "to retain tourism spend within Wales rather than it being lost to Wales' competitor destinations". | Visit Wales said a new strategy had recently been launched which would see more marketing in Wales, "to retain tourism spend within Wales rather than it being lost to Wales' competitor destinations". |