Latest news with #AshfordPrice
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Labour's extraordinary plan to rainproof Wales
One of my bleakest teenage memories is standing in the middle of a Welsh field while sheep eyed me balefully and horizontal rain mercilessly pummelled me and my miserably lost Duke of Edinburgh's Award expedition group. With that experience of a signature Wales downpour in mind, I'm puzzled by the Welsh Government's announcement that it has created a new £1 million 'weather-proofing' fund, offering businesses grants of between £5,000 and £20,000 for measures such as canopies and shelters. The scheme was created in response to Visit Wales data showing that 55 per cent of businesses cited poor weather as a reason for fewer visitors in summer 2024. But can a rickety canvas really cope with the might of Welsh rain, and will it actually make a significant difference to the tourist exodus? Ashford Price is PR officer and membership secretary for the Welsh association of visitor attractions, which worked with the Government on setting up the scheme. 'The reason we're doing this is, sadly, Wales has falling visitor numbers,' he explains. 'We want to make sure that the visitors who are going to our attractions feel looked after. We can't pretend we're going to put an umbrella over all of Wales. But we can do things like stoning a path that gets muddy to make it more solid. One of my colleagues takes people out in Newquay to look at dolphins, but they get soaked in the boat, so he wants to put a cover over it.' Price now plans to apply for a grant on behalf of the Dan yr Ogof cave system in Swansea. He's thinking of getting a cover for the land train that transports visitors, but most important, he says, is shelter for the ticket office queue. 'There's nothing worse than a line of people getting soaked through – the children are getting wet, granny's getting wet.' Rowland Rees-Evans, the chairman of the Wales Tourism Alliance, says there's no escaping the prevalence of rain. 'It's because we've got more mountainous regions and we're on the west coast. Mind, some visitors actually expect it. I recently heard about some Japanese tourists complaining because they'd gone to Wales and it hadn't rained.' Portia Jones, a Cardiff-based travel writer and host of the Travel Goals Podcast, agrees. 'It's definitely a preconception that it's really rainy. Being Welsh, I think you just embrace it: my mum always said, 'Never mind, get your wellies on and get outside.'' Jones points out a major flaw in the Government's scheme. 'What draws most visitors here is the huge, lovely landscapes. Adding a little shelter won't help if you're coming for a beach day or a mountain walk. You can't say to the kids 'Just sit under this canopy and look at the sea, but you can't go in.'' Rees-Evans, who is the director of golf and leisure complex Penrhos Park in Llanrhystud, notes that the grant wouldn't be enough to put substantial weather-proofing or new structures in place, unless you've already got an ongoing project and can put the money towards it. But in the current challenging circumstances for Wales's visitor economy, it's difficult to commit large sums. He might be tempted to add a canopy to the driving range at Penrhos, he says, 'but if that costs you £40,000, the grant is nice but you might not want to spend all that at the moment'. Porter also questions what kind of shelter would actually work. 'We specialise in sideways rain here! I hope that shelter has got sides and heating. The weather can be wild, so something flimsy is just not going to hold up.' Anna Thomson, a charity worker from London whose family regularly holidays in Wales, has many vivid memories of incessant Welsh rain. 'It's been our chosen spot for about a century. My husband's family has been coming to Pembrokeshire for decades, and he talks about sleeping in bunk beds in a shed in the garden of old family friends, hearing the rain on the rooftop. It's become a running joke – we just assume it will rain – and obviously you get an absolute downpours. But Welsh rain is different; it's like a cloud has landed on top of you. Welsh rain doesn't just fall; it envelops. Umbrellas and raincoats are pointless as it dwells in the air and sweeps into every pore from every direction.' Thomson is baffled as to how a modest structure or cover could possibly help. 'Fat lot of good a pergola would do,' she proclaims. 'I think it's a potty idea. The whole thing is wildly optimistic.' However, she also says that they've never been put off Wales by a bad weather forecast. If it rains, she and her husband take their children, aged 10 and 12, to look at a church or Pembroke Castle. 'I can't see this scheme changing anyone's mind really. You either take the weather in stride or you don't.' Fellow holidaymaker and keen hiker Jonathan Woodward, a marketing manager from Bristol, has had his fair share of wet weather in the valleys, but likewise can't see the return on this sizeable investment. 'I love going to Wales because it's a chance to get immersed in a wild, tranquil landscape,' he says. 'I can't think of anything worse than having some eyesore tent or bus shelter erected in the midst of that natural beauty. If it's really chucking it down, you either tough it out or you go dry off in front of the fire in a lovely pub. Any sort of in between measure seems bonkers to me.' Besides, argues Rees-Evans, is this really top priority? There are surely more significant ways in which the Government could be helping – or at least not hindering – the struggling tourist industry. 'The National Insurance increase on employers has put everyone on the back foot. So has the visitor levy, and the new holiday let tax rule saying you can only be eligible for business rates if you let the property for 182 nights or more, otherwise it reverts to council tax. It's having a huge impact on us.' Thomson's parents-in-law ultimately sold their holiday home because they fell into that double council tax trap. Instead of spending a million pounds on feeble rain shelters, 'the money could be used to improve the outside facilities for when the weather's good,' thinks Thomson. 'There are so many things that could be done to improve infrastructure,' agrees Jones. 'Look at the roads and public transport.' Rees-Evans notes that people are being more careful with their money thanks to the cost of living crisis, so it would help if Welsh visitor spots had funding for eye-catching new attractions. 'You need to keep upgrading or you get left behind.' Jones believes the Government should rethink their whole communication strategy. 'There's so much more we could be doing to promote ourselves. We have lots of movies being filmed here, like the new Tom Hardy action movie Venom – why aren't we telling people about that? We could also join the 'coolcation' movement: countries like Iceland and Sweden are luring in visitors who now find southern Europe too hot in the summer. Wales invented the coolcation! That would make more sense than calling attention to the climate in a negative way. We're Welsh, we're rainy and we're proud.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
04-05-2025
- Climate
- Telegraph
Labour's extraordinary plan to rainproof Wales
One of my bleakest teenage memories is standing in the middle of a Welsh field while sheep eyed me balefully and horizontal rain mercilessly pummelled me and my miserably lost Duke of Edinburgh's Award expedition group. With that experience of a signature Wales downpour in mind, I'm puzzled by the Welsh Government's announcement that it has created a new £1 million 'weather-proofing' fund, offering businesses grants of between £5,000 and £20,000 for measures such as canopies and shelters. The scheme was created in response to Visit Wales data showing that 55 per cent of businesses cited poor weather as a reason for fewer visitors in summer 2024. But can a rickety canvas really cope with the might of Welsh rain, and will it actually make a significant difference to the tourist exodus? Ashford Price is PR officer and membership secretary for the Welsh association of visitor attractions, which worked with the Government on setting up the scheme. 'The reason we're doing this is, sadly, Wales has falling visitor numbers,' he explains. 'We want to make sure that the visitors who are going to our attractions feel looked after. We can't pretend we're going to put an umbrella over all of Wales. But we can do things like stoning a path that gets muddy to make it more solid. One of my colleagues takes people out in Newquay to look at dolphins, but they get soaked in the boat, so he wants to put a cover over it.' Price now plans to apply for a grant on behalf of the Dan yr Ogof cave system in Swansea. He's thinking of getting a cover for the land train that transports visitors, but most important, he says, is shelter for the ticket office queue. 'There's nothing worse than a line of people getting soaked through – the children are getting wet, granny's getting wet.' Rowland Rees-Evans, chairman of the Wales Tourism Alliance, says there's no escaping the prevalence of rain. 'It's because we've got more mountainous regions and we're on the west coast. Mind, some visitors actually expect it. I recently heard about some Japanese tourists complaining because they'd gone to Wales and it hadn't rained.' Portia Jones, a Cardiff-based travel writer and host of the Travel Goals Podcast, agrees. 'It's definitely a preconception that it's really rainy. Being Welsh, I think you just embrace it: my mum always said 'Never mind, get your wellies on and get outside.'' Jones points out a major flaw in the Government's scheme. 'What draws most visitors here is the huge, lovely landscapes. Adding a little shelter won't help if you're coming for a beach day or a mountain walk. You can't say to the kids 'Just sit under this canopy and look at the sea, but you can't go in'.' Rees-Evans, who is the director of golf and leisure complex Penrhos Park in Llanrhystud, notes that the grant wouldn't be enough to put substantial weather proofing or new structures in place, unless you've already got an ongoing project and can put the money towards it. But in the current challenging circumstances for Wales's visitor economy, it's difficult to commit large sums. He might be tempted to add a canopy to the driving range at Penrhos, he says, 'but if that costs you £40,000, the grant is nice but you might not want to spend all that at the moment'. Porter also questions what kind of shelter would actually work. 'We specialise in sideways rain here! I hope that shelter has got sides and heating. The weather can be wild, so something flimsy is just not going to hold up.' Anna Thomson, a charity worker from London whose family regularly holidays in Wales, has many vivid memories of incessant Welsh rain. 'It's been our chosen spot for about a century. My husband's family has been coming to Pembrokeshire for decades, and he talks about sleeping in bunk beds in a shed in the garden of old family friends hearing the rain on the rooftop. It's become a running joke – we just assume it will rain – and obviously you get an absolute downpours. But Welsh rain is different it's like a cloud has landed on top of you. Welsh rain doesn't just fall: it envelops. Umbrellas and raincoats are pointless as it dwells in the air and sweeps into every pore from every direction.' Thomson is baffled as to how a modest structure or cover could possibly help. 'Fat lot of good a pergola would do,' she proclaims. 'I think it's a potty idea. The whole thing is wildly optimistic.' However, she also says that they've never been put off Wales by a bad weather forecast. If it rains she and her husband take their children, aged 10 and 12, to look at a church or Pembroke Castle. 'I can't see this scheme changing anyone's mind really. You either take the weather in stride or you don't.' Fellow holidaymaker and keen hiker Jonathan Woodward, a marketing manager from Bristol, has had his fair share of wet weather in the valleys, but likewise can't see the return on this sizeable investment. 'I love going to Wales because it's a chance to get immersed in a wild, tranquil landscape,' he says. 'I can't think of anything worse than having some eyesore tent or bus shelter erected in the midst of that natural beauty. If it's really chucking it down, you either tough it out or you go dry off in front of the fire in a lovely pub. Any sort of in between measure seems bonkers to me.' Besides, argues Rees-Evans, is this really top priority? There are surely more significant ways in which the Government could be helping – or at least not hindering – the struggling tourist industry. 'The National Insurance increase on employers has put everyone on the back foot. So has the visitor levy, and the new holiday let tax rule saying you can only be eligible for business rates if you let the property for 182 nights or more, otherwise it reverts to council tax. It's having a huge impact on us.' Thomson's parents-in-law ultimately sold their holiday home because they fell into that double council tax trap.
The Guardian
30-04-2025
- Climate
- The Guardian
‘Weather-proofing' fund to help Welsh tourism industry brave soggy summers
The landscapes are as spectacular as the welcome is warm in the Welsh valleys, mountain villages and harbour towns, but the weather can, to put it mildly, be unreliable. In an attempt to counter a trend of visitors staying away due to the threat of chilly sogginess, the Welsh government is launching a million-pound 'weather proofing' fund for tourism businesses. Owners of attractions will be able to apply for up to £20,000 to pay for measures such as canopies, sustainable drainage, covered seating areas, shelters or improved pathways and car park surfaces. The Welsh Association of Visitor Attractions (WAVA), which worked with the government to develop the fund, welcomed the move and claimed Wales was the first nation to experiment with ideas to combat the effect of the climate crisis on tourism. Ashford Price, a spokesperson for WAVA and chair of a caves centre in south Wales, said: 'Meteorologists forecast that Britain will get wetter winters and wetter summers, hence not trying out new ideas is not an option. Many attractions will in future give priority to keeping their customers dry. 'Ideas range from changing grass car parking, which readily turns to mud, into stone-based car parks, to transporting visitors in land trains and then ensuring that when they queue for tickets they have a roof over them to keep them dry. 'Improved drainage will in some attractions keep play areas dry, and putting a layer of stone dust on pathways will help keep footwear dry. Some boating attractions will provide coverings over their seating areas while out looking for dolphins.' Ironically, the Welsh government chanced on a very sunny week for the launch of the fund, but it cited data from Visit Wales, which showed that 55% of businesses said the weather was the reason for fewer visitors in summer 2024, even more than cost-of-living pressures. Almost 40% of businesses had fewer visitors last summer compared with the previous year. The poor weather included Storm Lilian, which brought 70mph winds to Wales in August, peak summer holiday season. Rebecca Evans, the cabinet secretary with responsibility for tourism, said tough weather had carved out the country's impressive landscapes, but she added: 'As the weather becomes more and more unpredictable, it has been identified as the single biggest factor affecting visitor numbers to Welsh attractions. Poor weather can stop them operating as normal, impact on the experience and has the potential to discourage visits in the first place. 'That's why we have listened to the concerns of people working in the tourism attraction sector and launched this fund, helping them prepare for increasingly variable weather patterns.' The Welsh Conservatives were not impressed, claiming the Labour government's policies, such as tighter rules around holiday lets intended to ease the housing crisis in visitor hotspots, were to blame, with a proposed 'tourism tax' likely to exacerbate the problem. The shadow cabinet secretary for culture, tourism and sport, Gareth Davies, said: 'Labour cannot seriously blame the weather for their own failures in government.'
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cash for tourist firms to shelter visitors from rain
Tourist attractions in Wales could claim up to £20,000 of grant funding from the Welsh government to invest in "weather-proofing". The government said the scheme would help small or medium-sized businesses to invest in measures like canopies, improved car park surfaces or visitor shelters, as weather conditions become increasingly unpredictable. Data from Visit Wales showed 55% of businesses said poor weather was a reason for fewer visitors last summer. But a Bangor University economist questioned whether the £1m scheme would be enough to have an impact on the industry. £1.25 a night Welsh tourism tax may start in 2027 'Brutal' holiday let rules 'risk thousands of jobs' Tourism brings £3.8bn to the Welsh economy each year, according to the Welsh government. The weather-proofing scheme will run until 2026 and offer grants of between £5,000 and £20,000. Eligible businesses must be accredited visitor attractions under the Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme; be micro, small or medium-sized; and have been trading for at least one year as a limited company, partnership, sole trader or social enterprise. Dan yr Ogof, a 17km (10 mile) cave system in Swansea which attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year, hopes to apply for the grant. Ashford Price, chairman of the attraction, said he would use the money to build more shelters by the ticket office and at stations for the site's land train. "No umbrella in this world would weather-proof Wales," admitted Mr Price. But he hopes to find a way to help visitors enjoy the landscape without getting soaked. "The serious side is that when they're at an attraction they're paying a lot of money to see what is there," he said. "The important thing is Wales is doing something where the other regions are doing nothing. "If they know there's a kind of assurance that we've done our very best to look after them, even in the rain, I think that will get us some brownie points." He said he would like to see more money made available in the future but described the grant as "a good starting point". Andy Addis-Fuller from the Penycae Inn restaurant, in Swansea, said he hoped the business would also receive a grant. "With the climate the way it is and the downpours that we get, we need to start thinking outside the box with regard to what we do to keep people dry," he said. The team also runs a "micro zoo", has a separate building with rooms for staying guests and outdoor space for eating and drinking. "People like to use the space outside, it's a lovely space but if it really does start to beat down they've got nowhere to go, literally stood there thinking 'we're getting wet'," said Mr Addis-Fuller. He said they would use the funding to invest in more pergolas for the outdoor seating area or even a marquee. They would also look to invest in more heaters and heated rails, to benefit the walkers who visit. "Really in the last six months we've have quite a few storms which have really impacted the valley," said Mr Addis-Fuller. Dr Edward Thomas Jones, senior lecturer in economics at Bangor University said tourism "really contributes to economies in many areas" of Wales. "One of the issues that we hear a lot here is the impact that wet weather or any bad weather has on businesses," he added. "The concerns that I have is that the £1m fund that we're talking about, that that won't be sufficient to really have an impact on this industry." The cabinet secretary with responsibility for tourism, Rebecca Evans, said the fund was a result of listening to "the concerns of people working in the tourism attraction sector". "As the weather, which has carved out our impressive landscapes throughout history, becomes more and more unpredictable, it has been identified as the single biggest factor affecting visitor numbers to Welsh attractions," said Ms Evans. She said the fund would help businesses to "prepare for increasingly variable weather patterns" as well as extending the tourist season. Tourism tax 'risky economic move', says holiday let firm Wales fails to attract overseas tourists, MPs say Wales fails to attract overseas tourists, MPs say Year of Croeso: Weather-Proofing Fund for Tourism Attractions
Euronews
26-02-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Dragons at half mast: Welsh tourist attractions to close on St David's Day in tourist tax protest
St David's Day is just around the corner, and the perfect opportunity for a day out in Wales. But visitors to the country's most popular attractions may be disappointed this weekend, as dozens choose to close in protest of the government's proposed tourist tax. Organised by the Welsh Association of Visitor Attractions (WAVA), the protest is designed to highlight the impact the proposed tax will have on local people and businesses. According to WAVA spokesperson Ashford Price, around 100 plus businesses will either close completely on St David's Day, Saturday 1 March, or fly the Welsh flag at half-mast. "Despite repeated efforts to engage through normal channels, our concerns have been ignored,' says Jim Jones, CEO of North Wales Tourism. "As a result, we are escalating our opposition and calling on businesses to join us in a symbolic gesture of lowering flags to half-mast, reflecting the profound damage to what was once one of Wales' most stable and economically significant sectors." The Welsh government has proposed a tax on visitors of £1.25 a night (€1.50), but with VAT on top, it comes out to £1.50 (€1.80). WAVA argues that this will deter visitors from coming to Wales and have a disproportionate impact on local people holidaying at home. While WAVA doesn't specify which attractions will participate in the protest, it has over 100 members from all regions of Wales. Member organisations include popular attractions like Anglesey Sea Zoo, Zip World, Oakwood Theme Park and the Royal Mint Experience. What's the problem with the proposed Welsh tourist tax? Tourist taxes have become commonplace in many of Europe's most popular destinations. Councils and governments have introduced them in hopes of mitigating some of the impacts of overtourism. But WAVA says this is not relevant for Wales, which is experiencing fewer tourists than it has in the past. 'Wales has recently lost 23 per cent of its overnight staying visitors,' says Price, 'and I know of no attraction that is getting the figures that they had pre-COVID.' According to Welsh Government statistics, Wales received 892,000 visits in 2023, 13 per cent fewer than it had in 2019. Tourist spending was at £458 million (€553 million) in 2023, down 11 per cent from 2019. 'Wales remains the only UK nation to not recover spend figures from 2019,' it says. But the problem is not only the impact a higher cost of visiting Wales will have on those coming from other countries. 'Most people in Wales do not realise that they, too, will need to pay this tax,' says Price, 'including babies and children.' According to Welsh government statistics, 21 per cent of people in Wales are living in relative income poverty. For children, that number rises to 29 per cent. Under the proposals, Welsh people holidaying in Wales will also need to pay the tourism tax. Around 60 per cent of Welsh people holiday in their home country, and account for three in 10 overnight stays. 'I do not think Welsh people will be very happy when this tourism tax comes into force,' says Price. 'If you have, and many do, three children and two adults in a tent, it will cost £52.50 (€63.40) to pay the tourism tax on top of your camping fees.' Price further points out that, while tourism taxes are becoming common abroad, businesses in those countries enjoy lower VAT rates. In Wales, the VAT is 20 per cent. Why is Wales proposing a tourist tax? If brought in, Wales would become the first UK nation to introduce a blanket tourist tax. The government has headlined the reasons for the measure as part of its broader effort to support communities impacted by high visitor numbers and ensure tourism remains sustainable. Officially called a visitor levy, the proposed tax would be applied regionally, with councils deciding for themselves whether to introduce it. As well as using the funds to better manage tourism and the infrastructure needed to support it, the Welsh government has said the funds will be used to support the Welsh language, 'particularly within Welsh-speaking communities where tourism is considered a significant contributor to the local economy.' The proposed visitor levy is still in the consultation phase, with plans to introduce legislation in 2027. Is tourist tax the answer to overtourism? Europe's 2024 was marked by an exponential rise in protests against overtourism. From the Canary Islands to Greece, local people took to the streets in anger and frustration at the ever-increasing numbers of visitors and the impact tourism has on housing, healthcare and services. Taxes on visitors are nothing new, with more than 60 destinations worldwide having such a levy in place. However, in response to overtourism, many more destinations are adding tourist taxes, or increasing the rates they charge. From street protests to an Airbnb ban, all the ways Barcelona said no to tourists in 2024 Not everyone has been happy with the implementation of new taxation on tourists. In Italy, a proposed increase in tourist taxes has sparked opposition from the hospitality sector, with hotel and travel industry associations expressing concern over the proposed hike to €25. 'We must tread very carefully,' Barbara Casillo, director of Italian hotel chain Confindustria Alberghi, told local media last year. 'If we scare travellers who come to us by giving the impression that we want to take what we can, we are not doing a good service to the country.' In Venice, a daily tax was introduced as a response to overtourism. But residents collectively opposed it, claiming it turned Venice into an 'amusement park' and arguing that the tax does not disincentivise anyone from visiting. The tax is still in place. In Thailand, a proposed tourist tax was scrapped after widespread protests against the idea from tourism businesses and the hospitality industry. The closure of Wales' attractions and flags at half mast is designed to have an impact on the outcome of the Wales tourist tax proposals. For visitors, the advice is to check before you travel whether the attraction you plan to visit is open.
