The number of tourists visiting Wales on holiday has fallen by more than 1.2mn in the last three years, Welsh Conservatives have learned.
Figures obtained by the party reveal that between 2006 and 2008 the number of holidaymakers to Wales dropped from 10.75mn to 9.56mn, a fall of 11 per cent. The fall covers tourists from both the UK and overseas.
Welsh Conservatives today claimed the figures showed the Assembly Government was failing to market Wales properly at home or abroad.
Shadow Minister for the Economy David Melding added that the 2008 figures also suggested the Labour-Plaid administration had not taken advantage of more people holidaying at home because of the recession and weak pound.
At one of two tourism summits held last year industry leaders were told the strength of the Euro and the recession could boost Welsh tourism as people shun expensive foreign holidays.
But the figures for 2008 show a fall in the number of people from within the UK holidaying in Wales compared to the previous two years.
Shadow Minister for the Economy David Melding AM said:
“It’s been clear for some time that we need to do more to market Wales as a place to visit and for investors to set up business.
“These figures show that the recent cuts to the marketing budget are now taking effect with fewer people holidaying here.
“It is particularly worrying that fewer people from the UK have decided to holiday in Wales.
“We were repeatedly told by ministers that we needed to take advantage of this market with more people holidaying in the UK as a result of the recession and the weak pound.
“These figures demonstrate that the Assembly Government – which is now ultimately responsible for tourism in Wales – has failed to seize this opportunity, particularly in the short break market which is the backbone of the industry in Wales.”
