Local Labour AM Jeff Cuthbert has expressed concern that Caerphilly came a disappointing joint 16th in a table published yesterday (16.12.10) which breaks down tourist income in Wales by local authority.
Cardiff – with its thousands of visitors to the Millennium Stadium and other national attractions, Gwynedd – home of Snowdonia National Park and the Llyn Peninsula, and Swansea – home of Dylan Thomas and the Gower – topped the list as expected. Newport also received a boost this year thanks to hosting golf’s Ryder Cup.
Caerphilly, however, came a lowly joint 16th, sitting with many areas which do not have as many tourist attractions.
Labour AM Jeff Cuthbert said: ‘I think Caerphilly County Borough Council is missing a trick here. In Caerphilly we have the second largest castle in Britain, while we have the impressive sixteenth century manor house at Llancaiach Fawr near Nelson.
“We also have many more lesser-known that are a little bit more off the beaten track – I’m thinking of Ruperra Castle near Machen; Gelligaer Common; Parc Penallta in Ystrad Mynach; and the eerie setting of Eglwysilan on the ridge above Senghenydd.
“Of course we also host the Big Cheese Festival every year – an event that pulls in more visitors than the National Eisteddfod.
“So it remains a mystery as to why Caerphilly is so low down the table in terms of tourist income. I would urge the Council to do more to attract visitors to Caerphilly so that they can appreciate all it has to offer.”
