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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

5 items
13 Recommendation Fourth Report - Wales as a global touri… Deferred

Require Welsh Government to consider establishing an independent tourism agency for Wales

While we are impressed by much of the work of Visit Wales, we question whether the Welsh Government might be better served if the body had greater independence. We call on the Welsh Government to consider whether an independent tourism agency would better serve the interests of Wales. Read more

Government response AI summary
The UK Government deferred to Visit Wales (Welsh Government), but expressed support for Visit Wales’ work and mentioned their support for Welsh heritage through UNESCO and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
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Wales Office
15 Recommendation Fourth Report - Wales as a global touri… Deferred

Poor transport infrastructure significantly hinders Wales' ability to attract international tourists

We are concerned that poor transport infrastructure has a negative impact on Wales’ ability to attract a greater share of international tourists who arrive in the UK. Transport infrastructure has been underfunded by the UK and Welsh Governments for a number of years. Transport infrastructure spending should be considered a … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the importance of transport and is considering Lord Hendy's 2021 review on UK transport connectivity, promising a response soon. They also highlight existing investments, including over £343 million in Welsh rail schemes and £1 billion for the North Wales Main Line electrification.
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Wales Office
16 Recommendation Fourth Report - Wales as a global touri… Deferred

Require UK and Welsh Governments to develop proposals for funding transport infrastructure improvements

We call on the UK Government and the Welsh Government to recognise the key importance of transport to the tourism industry. We urge the UK Government and the Welsh Government to bring forward proposals to address these issues, focussing on the potential positive impact on tourism of resolving this infrastructural … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the importance of transport and is considering Lord Hendy's 2021 review on UK transport connectivity, promising a response soon. It highlights existing investments in Welsh rail infrastructure, including over £343 million and a £1 billion project to electrify the North Wales Main …
Read full response →
Wales Office
17 Recommendation Fourth Report - Wales as a global touri… Deferred

Prioritise positive consideration for a new direct rail link to Heathrow from the west

In particular, we urge that positive consideration be given to the proposed new direct rail link to Heathrow Airport from the west. This would hugely improve connectivity between Wales and Heathrow and make it much easier for international tourists to come to Wales. Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states it is considering Lord Hendy's 2021 review on UK transport connectivity, which includes strengthening main transport arteries, and will publish its response soon. It does not specifically commit to or comment on the proposed direct rail link to Heathrow from the west.
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Wales Office
18 Recommendation Fourth Report - Wales as a global touri… Deferred

Require Welsh Government to re-examine visitor levy and mitigate negative tourism impact

We are concerned that the proposed visitor levy may have a negative impact on the number of international tourists coming to Wales. While we see some benefits that might accrue from the proposal, there are other ways in which these might be achieved. We feel that the proposal, as it … Read more

Government response AI summary
The UK Government states it does not have any locus in this area as it is a matter for the Welsh Government.
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