Welsh Conservatives today revealed that the Welsh Government’s tourism marketing arm, Visit Wales, has not spent a penny advertising Wales either in the UK or abroad in the first five months of this year.
Welsh Conservatives had requested details of all advertising spend for the financial year 2013/14 including print media, online, TV and radio.
The response from the Welsh Government confirmed that so far there had been no expenditure on advertising whatsoever, not even at the height of the summer tourist season. The response confirmed that Visit Wales would, later in the year, be running autumn and spring campaigns.
Suzy Davies AM, Shadow Minister for Tourism, said, “100,000 people in Wales work in the tourist industry in skilled jobs, but many of these are dependent on Wales competing for its share of tourists.
“People who work in the tourism industry will be astonished that Visit Wales has not spent a penny advertising what Wales has to offer, even at the peak of the summer tourist season.
“Small tourism operators, whose livelihoods are dependent on trade, expect the Welsh Government to fervently promote Wales to potential tourists in the UK, Europe and overseas.
“This year we have enjoyed one of the warmest and driest summers for many years, which was a welcome boost to the Welsh tourist industry, but it looks like the Welsh Government made no effort to maximise tourist business.
“While Visit Wales runs spring and autumn campaigns, a complete lack of spending in the first half of the financial year completely neglects the lucrative peak tourist season and could be losing valuable tourist trade to small businesses.
“As soon as it became clear we were expecting bumper summer weather, the Welsh Government should have sought to capitalise by promoting weekend and short breaks to potential visitors.
“The Welsh Labour Government must revise its marketing priorities so Visit Wales delivers value for money so every pound spent delivers the greatest possible reward for our tourist industry.”
