Select Committee · Welsh Affairs Committee

Wales as a global tourist destination

Status: Closed Opened: 8 Feb 2022 Closed: 7 Mar 2024 14 recommendations 4 conclusions 1 report

The Welsh Affairs Committee has launched an inquiry which seeks to explore the current position of the tourism sector in Wales and the steps the UK Government can take to help promote Wales to the world.

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fourth Report - Wales as a global tourist destination HC 220 12 Jul 2023 18 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

9 items
1 Conclusion Fourth Report - Wales as a global touri… Accepted

Wales maintains a low international profile, attracting few overseas visitors to the UK

Wales has a unique culture and language, boasts some of the most spectacular landscapes in Europe and offers a wide range of sporting activities. We are concerned by Wales’ relatively low profile overseas and that it attracts such a small proportion of the international visitors coming to the UK. Read more

Government response AI summary
VisitBritain says it already works closely with Visit Wales to ensure Welsh products are incorporated in all their activity and that VisitBritain's international marketing campaigns are part of the GREAT programme.
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Wales Office
4 Recommendation Fourth Report - Wales as a global touri… Accepted

Develop a joint strategy and distinctive brand for Wales's international tourism promotion.

We recommend that VisitBritain and Visit Wales work together to develop a strategy, by February 2024, for promoting Wales as a first-choice destination for international visitors to the UK. A key aspect of this should be the development of a distinctive brand that raises awareness of Wales, which can be … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states that VisitBritain and Visit Wales already work closely to incorporate Welsh products in campaigns, with Visit Wales leading on its own brand which VisitBritain integrates into the GREAT Campaign. Their Strategic Partner Framework provides an existing mechanism for collaboration on growth objectives.
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Wales Office
6 Conclusion Fourth Report - Wales as a global touri… Accepted

VisitBritain's current approach to promoting Wales lacks distinctiveness and adequate commitment.

It is important that UK Government bodies responsible for promoting Wales abroad reflect the distinct identity of each part of the UK in their activities. We are not convinced that VisitBritain is achieving all it can on behalf of Wales. A single Chief Executive for both VisitBritain and VisitEngland does … Read more

Government response AI summary
VisitBritain says it recognises the importance of marketing in supporting the wider visitor economy, ensures all parts of Britain are sold in international markets, and ensures all Welsh content is shared with Visit Wales.
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Wales Office
7 Conclusion Fourth Report - Wales as a global touri… Accepted

VisitBritain's marketing materials and tour packages insufficiently promote Wales's distinct attractions.

VisitBritain does not sufficiently promote Wales in its marketing materials, nor does it make a focused offering to international tourists of Wales’ attractions. Wales can be reached from London within a few hours. However, it is often not included in UK holiday packages offered by tour operators. (Paragraph 60) Wales … Read more

Government response AI summary
VisitBritain says it recognises the importance of marketing in supporting the wider visitor economy, ensures all parts of Britain are sold in international markets, and ensures all Welsh content is shared with Visit Wales.
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Wales Office
8 Recommendation Fourth Report - Wales as a global touri… Accepted

Encourage tour operators to include Wales in UK holiday packages as a distinct destination.

When developing a joint strategy to promote Wales, as a distinct destination, we recommend that VisitBritain and Visit Wales encourage tour operators to include Wales in UK holiday packages. We expect VisitBritain to report its progress on this issue by February 2024. Read more

Government response AI summary
VisitBritain and Visit Wales already work closely, with VisitBritain organizing trade events and fam trips for international buyers and media, and offering grant funding to promote Wales within UK packages. The response notes that uptake by Welsh businesses for these opportunities could be improved.
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Wales Office
9 Recommendation Fourth Report - Wales as a global touri… Accepted

Improve VisitBritain's marketing materials to reflect Wales's distinct identity and tourism offerings.

VisitBritain should make improvements to better reflect Wales as a distinct location, with an increased Welsh presence in its marketing materials and a greater number of Welsh tourism offerings featured on its website. VisitBritain should report to us on progress made by February 2024. Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states VisitBritain already promotes Wales by including Welsh offers on its new commercial website, sharing content with Visit Wales for feedback, and actively working to increase the number of Welsh products available on the VisitBritain shop.
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Wales Office
11 Conclusion Fourth Report - Wales as a global touri… Accepted

Improved co-operation between VisitBritain and Visit Wales is essential for consistent marketing.

During our inquiry, we have heard different messages regarding the levels of engagement between VisitBritain and Visit Wales. We welcome recent efforts to improve this relationship. This must remain a priority, as good co-ordination is necessary to marketing Wales in a consistent manner. Read more

Government response AI summary
VisitBritain states that it meets quarterly with Visit Wales, VisitScotland, Tourism NI and London & Partners to share recent work and discuss topics of common interest and work closely with Visit Wales located in 16 countries globally.
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Wales Office
12 Recommendation Fourth Report - Wales as a global touri… Accepted

Replicate high levels of Visit Wales and VisitBritain co-operation in all overseas offices.

We were very pleased with the level of co-operation we found between Visit Wales and VisitBritain in New York and Washington. We recommend that this level of co-operation is replicated across the UK’s and Welsh Government’s other overseas offices.

Government response AI summary
The government states that VisitBritain's in-market teams already work closely with Visit Wales across 16 countries, supported by a strategic partner framework, regular meetings, and shared priorities to promote Britain.
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Wales Office
14 Recommendation Fourth Report - Wales as a global touri… Accepted

Require VisitBritain and Visit Wales to assess enhanced collaboration and data sharing

VisitBritain and Visit Wales, in fulfilling the various other recommendations made in this Report, should assess how they can better collaborate, including in the sharing of data. (Paragraph 83) Transport infrastructure and Visitor Levy

Government response AI summary
The government states that VisitBritain and Visit Wales already collaborate regularly through quarterly meetings, jointly funded data trackers, and a strategic partner framework, which includes sharing data and promoting Britain globally.
Read full response →
Wales Office

Oral evidence sessions

5 sessions
Date Witnesses
1 Feb 2023 Duncan Parish · Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Heledd Owen · Welsh Government, Jason Thomas · Welsh Government, Patricia Yates · VisitBritain/VisitEngland, Rt Hon Stuart Andrew MP · Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Vaughan Gething MS · Welsh Government View ↗
20 Jul 2022 Anthony Pickles · VisitBritain, Professor Annette Pritchard · Leeds Beckett University, Professor Dorothy A. Yen · Brunel University London View ↗
15 Jun 2022 Ian Roberts · Portmeirion Cymru, Paul Lewin · Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways, Sean Taylor · Zip World, Stephen Davies · Penderyn Distillery View ↗
25 May 2022 Camilla King · Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, Fiona Stewart · Green Man Festival, Graeme Farrow · Wales Millennium Centre, Louise Miles-Payne · UK Theatre, Matthew Williams · Welsh Sports Association View ↗
20 Apr 2022 David Anderson · National Museum Wales, David Chapman · UK Hospitality, Gwyneth Sweatman · Federation of Small Businesses Wales, Ian Edwards MI FIH · The Celtic Collection and ICC Wales, Rebecca Williams · The Crown Estate, Suzy Davies · Wales Tourism Alliance View ↗

Who gave evidence

24 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Anthony Pickles · Former Head of Tourism Affairs VisitBritain 1
Camilla King · Executive Producer Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod 1
David Anderson · Director General National Museum Wales 1
David Chapman · Executive Director for Wales UK Hospitality 1
Duncan Parish · Deputy Director for Tourism and Cultural Diplomacy Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport 1
Fiona Stewart · Managing Director Green Man Festival 1
Graeme Farrow · Artistic and Creative Director Wales Millennium Centre 1
Gwyneth Sweatman · Head of Communications Federation of Small Businesses Wales 1
Heledd Owen · Deputy Director of Marketing Welsh Government 1
Ian Edwards MI FIH · Chief Executive The Celtic Collection and ICC Wales 1
Ian Roberts · Finance Director Portmeirion Cymru 1
Jason Thomas · Director of Culture, Sport and Tourism Welsh Government 1
Louise Miles-Payne · Director, Creu Cymru and Board Member UK Theatre 1
Matthew Williams · Policy and Communications Manager Welsh Sports Association 1
Patricia Yates · Chief Executive VisitBritain/VisitEngland 1
Paul Lewin · General Manager Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways 1
Professor Annette Pritchard · Professor of Tourism Management Leeds Beckett University 1
Professor Dorothy A. Yen · Professor in Marketing, Brunel Business School Brunel University London 1
Rebecca Williams · Director of Devolved Nations The Crown Estate 1
Rt Hon Stuart Andrew MP · Minister for Sport, Gambling and Civil Society Department for Culture, Media and Sport 1
Sean Taylor · Founder and President Zip World 1
Stephen Davies · Chief Executive Penderyn Distillery 1
Suzy Davies · Chair Wales Tourism Alliance 1
Vaughan Gething MS · Minister for Economy Welsh Government 1