What Makes People Come To Wales?
Traditional rivalries to one side, it is good to see that tourism in the ‘valleys’ of Wales is thriving. Perhaps it is a combination of things: the recession, the value of the pound, nightmare scenarios at airports. People have probably realised that there is potential in visiting somewhere closer to home. It certainly is good news for Wales and Scotland, but not so good for the Spanish and Portugese.
It’s now more attractive for continental visitors to come, as a result of the weaker pound. A fact that has not gone unnoticed by the Wales Tourist Board, who are currently in the process of appointing an agency to probe further into this area.
According to the European Commission, 48 per cent of people intend to spend their holiday time in their own country, an increase of 5 per cent on the previous year. To me it would appear that there is a growing trend. You might see a visit to Wales or Scotland as a local one if you are English. It is not because we feel we should laud it over them, but more a similarity of our cultures. The physical link is important, as is a shared currency, language and the fact that there is no water barrier. Although very much an Englishman, I still consider holidays in Wales is a very different event.
I have only really experienced small areas of Wales, i embarassed to say, and mainly in the north of the country. One of the greatest things to do in Wales would be walking to the summit of Mount Snowdon, and a visit to the Snowdonia National Park. I love the mountain region, and would naturally choose holiday cottages in Wales as the accommodation I would most like to experience. I remember staying once in a little cottage not too far from the pass at Llanberis. From there it was possible to see the rugged peaks of Snowdon, and the other beautiful scenery such as the twin lakes of Llyn Padarn and Llyn Peris. From Llanberis you can catch a train or walk up one of the many routes to the summit, over 3,000 feet high.
