Select committee: Welsh Affairs Committee
Recommendation 15
Fourth Report - Wales as a global tourist destination
Published 12 Jul 2023
Paragraph 106
Addressed to Wales Office
Welsh Affairs Committee Wales as a global tourist destination All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
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 higher priority for spending than at present.
From: Welsh Affairs Committee, Fourth Report - Wales as a global tourist destination (HC 220), paragraph 106, 12 July 2023
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 2 November 2023 (deadline 12 September 2023).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government sets out existing VisitBritain and Visit Wales activity in response to the Committee's recommendations on promoting Wales, and on transport states its support for a western rail link to Heathrow is conditional.
- On a Wales brand and strategy, the government says Visit Wales "leads on the development of a tourism brand specifically for Wales", with VisitBritain working with it so these brand values are reflected in the GREAT Campaign.
- On tour operators, it says "uptake by Welsh organisations could be improved" and that VisitBritain "will continue to liaise with Visit Wales" so tourism benefits are spread across all Home Nations.
- On the Heathrow rail link, support is "predicated on" a satisfactory business case and agreement of an acceptable financial contribution from Heathrow Airport Limited, and assumptions need to be "reconsidered" after the pandemic.
- On transport funding, it cites £2.7 million announced on 2 February 2023 for options on the South Wales Main Line and additional stations, with decisions on further Welsh study proposals to be announced "in due course".