An action plan to bring thousands more visitors to Bridgend County Borough over the next five years has received Cabinet approval.
The tourism strategy aims to “develop a thriving visitor economy which celebrates the unique strengths of the place, supports jobs, generates business opportunities and improves the range of amenities available for visitors and local people”.
Cabinet member heard how the local tourism industry is already worth £246 million to the local economy, attracting over 3.5 million visitors per annum and generating 4,238 jobs.
The new strategy includes an action plan to develop and shape the many different aspects of local tourism, taking into account challenges such as the economy, competing destinations and the growth of social media.
It gives a commitment to seeking ways to constantly improve the visitor experience.
The strategy will aim to raise the profile of the area, celebrate its diversity and heritage and involve community groups and the local tourism industry in its development.
As well as agreeing to formally adopt the strategy, Cabinet members gave the go ahead for establishing a new Bridgend Tourism Partnership to steer it.
A formal launch of the strategy will now take place.
Cllr Huw David, Cabinet Member for Resources, said: “Bridgend County Borough has a lot to offer and we are developing more unique selling points to attract visitors and tourists into the area. This tourism strategy recognises that the ways in which people look for holiday and day trip destinations is changing, and takes into account new and modern trends as well as making good use of more traditional methods of marketing and promoting the area.”
