Economy Secretary, Ken Skates, will visit World Travel Market at London’s ExCel today - the UK’s leading global travel event.
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
Visit Wales will have presence at the event this year which will be used to make the most of north Wales being included on the Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2017 list.
As Wales’ Epic Year of Adventure comes to a close, World Travel Market will also be an opportunity to speak to the travel trade about the Year of Legends in 2017 and Year of the Sea in 2018.
Visit Wales will be joined by tourism businesses from across Wales on the UKInbound stand (UKI 100). The stand partners are:
- Cambria DMC
- Royal Victoria Hotel
- Vale Resort
- North Wales Tourism
- Visit Llandudno
- Cadw & National Museum Wales
- Surf Snowdonia Adventure Parc
- Celtic Manor Collection
- Visit Cardiff.
Wales has enjoyed two record breaking years with visitor numbers crossing the 10 million mark for the first time in 2014 and record spend from domestic and overseas visitors in 2015.
This year, Wales has welcomed 450,000 overseas visitors in the first 6 months of 2016, an increase of 15% compared to the first 6 months of 2015 and the highest increase among the nations of the UK. The figures also show that while there has been a small decrease in expenditure across the UK as a whole, expenditure by overseas visitors in Wales has increased by more than 8%.
The UEFA Champions League Final will take place in Cardiff in June 2017 – and will form part of the Year of Legends sporting events. To raise awareness of Cardiff hosting the event, visitors to the stand will have a rare opportunity to have selfies taken with the UEFA Champions League Final Trophies which will be on display at selected times.
During his time at World Travel Market, the Economy Secretary will meet with Deirdre Wells OBE, Chief Executive UKinbound as well as Tom Hall Lonely Planet’s Editorial Director. The Economy Secretary, said:
“Wales has had an epic Year of Adventure, and the listing of north Wales in the top ten countries in the world to visit in 2017 is the icing on the cake. Being listed as one of the best in the world by such a well respected and established publication such as the Lonely Planet is a real coup for north Wales. It gives us an excellent platform to showcase the best of Wales to the global tourism industry and to speak to travel trade colleagues at events such as World Travel Market about what Wales has to offer. Being among the best in the world will inspire many more to see what we have to offer in Wales. This recognition is testimony to the commitment and partnership working between public and private sector to deliver a world class visitor experience.
“World Travel Market also gives us a great opportunity to start talking about 2017 when we will be celebrating an epic year of legendary experiences by bringing the past to life like never before and celebrating new legends, inspired by Wales. Next year, we are inviting visitors to take part in Wales’ epic story and create Welsh legends of their own.”