Welsh Ministers and Assembly Members have marked Wales Tourism Week, the annual celebration of tourism and its importance to the economy, by meeting with representatives from the tourism and hospitality industry at a special event at Cardiff Airport.
Now in its fourth year, Wales Tourism Week is part of the British Tourism Week which has HRH The Prince of Wales as its patron. Assembly Members joined more than 20 tourism business owners and representatives who were welcomed to the airport by tourism leader, Mandy Davies, who chairs Vale Marketing Group, South East Wales Tourism Forum and Capital Region Tourism.
She said: “Wales Tourism Week represents an opportunity to discuss key issues for the tourism industry with our Assembly Members. The sector plays an important role in the economic wellbeing of Wales, employing some 100,000 people across the country and generating around £3.5 billion for the economy each year. The announcement this week that the redevelopment and improvements to Cardiff Airport have been granted planning permission by the Vale of Glamorgan Council is good news for businesses across the Capital Region, both in traditional tourism such as accommodation and attractions, and in the less obvious beneficiaries such as retail, entertainment and sport.”
The people attending the event also heard from airport director of business development and commercial, Steve Hodgetts, who gave an overview of airport operations and explanation of current developments and how the airport must work with local stakeholders to encourage airline development in Wales. He said: “The ultimate drivers of air traffic growth for Cardiff Airport – both inbound and outbound will be airlines responding to increased economic performance in South Wales and increased visibility of Wales internationally. These are issues which can only be addressed as part of wider economic policy and industrial development in Wales.”
Vale of Glamorgan Assembly Member, Jane Hutt, said: “Cardiff Airport is an important gateway for inbound tourism and I am excited to hear about progress with the planned redevelopment, new routes and the commitment of the airport to Wales. Wales Tourism Week provides a useful focus for politicians and allows us to take stock of the role tourism plays within the economy both directly from tourism revenue but also in helping promote Wales by sending positive messages back with our visitors when they return home.”
Alun Cairns, Assembly Member for South Wales West and Parliamentary Candidate for the Vale of Glamorgan, said: “More needs to be done to support Cardiff Airport’s efforts to attract carriers and routes to Wales. It is essential that they are given the tools and financial support by the Assembly Government that other regional airports enjoy.”
