The Welsh Government has published its five-year plan to support the visitor economy - backed by a £60m funding pot for tourism businesses and other organisations.
Under the plan – Welcome to Wales: Priorities for the Visitor Economy 2020-25 it aims to increase off-peak visitor numbers, boost spending and see tourists visit new parts of the nation.
This will be supported by the new £10m fund - Brilliant Basics, which will go towards small-scale tourism infrastructure improvements.
There will another £50m Wales Tourism Investment Fund - delivered in partnership with the Development Bank of Wales - focusing on high-quality, “reputation-changing” products.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “Over the past decade, tourism in Wales has been transformed, but there’s room for further growth in our visitor economy and we want to support that.
“Our new plan, with its priorities, strike the right balance between economic growth and our wider wellbeing as a country.
“We want to develop high-quality, year-round experiences, which are good for visitors and host communities. Sustainable growth can deliver health, environmental and cultural benefits by protecting and promoting our strengths.”
Other proposals:
■ Event Wales will be set up to develop, grow and attract cultural, business and sporting events.
■ Visit Wales will focus on products and on developing experiences, which reflect Wales’ stand-out strengths as a country. It will also focus marketing efforts on growing off-peak tourism, encouraging people to spend more and spread the benefit of tourism.
■ Two new themed years will be announced for 2022 and 2024
Nearly one in 10 people in Wales works in tourism.
The sector is on track to meet the 10% growth target set seven years ago.
Wales has welcomed record numbers of UK visitors over the last five years and the value of domestic tourism grew by 14% last year.
