Source · Select Committees · Welsh Affairs Committee
Recommendation 10
10
Not Addressed
Report 2023 international visitor figures for Wales, compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Recommendation
We await to see whether current VisitBritain marketing campaigns will lead to an improvement in international visitor numbers to Wales, compared with 2019 figures. We expect VisitBritain to report 2023 international visitor figures to us by February 2024. (Paragraph 63) Relationship between VisitBritain and Visit Wales
Government Response Summary
The Government outlines VisitBritain's work with Visit Wales, trade events, and educational trips, but does not specifically commit to reporting 2023 international visitor figures by February 2024.
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
VisitBritain works closely with Visit Wales to support connections with relevant tourism operators in Wales. Although Tourism policy is devolved, VisitBritain still has the power to market Wales abroad. As a result, VisitBritain organises trade events, such as ExploreGB, Destination Britain North America, and Destination Britain China, to connect international buyers with British suppliers in order to open up new connections and business opportunities for British destinations to be sold around the world. Spaces are always made available specifically for Welsh businesses, and Visit Wales has the role of recruiting Welsh businesses to join these events. However, uptake by Welsh organisations could be improved. Despite Visit Wales offering subsidised places for Destination Britain North America 2023, Welsh businesses did not take up all of the allocated slots, and – as of 19 October 2023 – no Welsh businesses had signed up to the upcoming trade missions in India and China. Nevertheless, VisitBritain will continue to liaise with Visit Wales to ensure the benefits of tourism are spread across all Home Nations. Each year VisitBritain also organises a series of educational trips for international travel trade buyers across Britain, including Wales. In 2023, buyers from Germany, Canada