Tourism in Wales
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wales is an emerging tourist destination, with 8,078,900 visitors to National Trust and Welsh Tourist Board destinations in 2002.[1]
Tourism in Wales sustains 60,000 service-sector jobs directly and 30,000 jobs indirectly, almost 9% of the total workforce in Wales. Total expenditure of UK tourists in Wales averages £1.5 billion per year [2]. Over 1 million international tourists visit Wales each year; the most popular origins of overseas tourists are the United States of America, the Republic of Ireland and Germany.[3]
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[edit] Reasons for tourism in Wales
Wales has a rich history and culture, both of which have been exploited to attract tourists. During the industrial revolution, Wales evolved into a powerful mining economy, the scars of which can still be seen on the landscape today. The Museum of Welsh Life, which focuses largely on the industrial past of Wales, is currently the most popular tourist attraction in Wales, attracting over 600,000 visitors annually. Other historical destinations, such as the many castles across Wales, also attract large numbers of tourists.
The highly varied landscape of Wales also helps tourism. There are three national parks in Wales, the Brecon Beacons National Park, Snowdonia National Park and Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Popular activities at the national parks include hill walking, hiking, canoeing and kayaking and climbing. Wales is also becoming increasingly popular for 'extreme' sports, such as surfing, mountain biking and downhill cycling (in which Wales hosts the 'Dragon Downhill Series').
The terrain of Wales has also attracted the World Rally Championship (WRC). The Wales Rally GB is held annually. The 2005 Wales Rally GB saw the first WRC stage to be set indoors, at the Millennium Stadium.
The cities of Cardiff and Swansea are increasingly being seen as a cosmopolitan alternative to Wales's countryside. The regenerated Cardiff Bay area, commonly shown on the cult TV series Doctor Who, is one of the most popular destinations. Another increasingly popular reason for going to Wales, as with the rest of the UK—especially by those from North America—is genealogy, with many visitors coming to Wales to explore their family and ancestral roots. 1.8 million United States citizens are estimated to have Welsh ancestral roots.[4]
[edit] History of tourism in Wales
When George Borrow wrote Wild Wales in 1862 it is clear from his descriptions that the notion of tourism hardly existed except for the most intrepid traveller. Indeed he records that many locals regarded the mountainous and wild landscapes as monstrous and ugly. It was only as the Victorian era developed that the concept of mountains and valleys as both interesting and visually pleasing landscapes developed. North Wales in particular benefitted from this changed vision with development of towns and villages such as Betws-y-Coed to accommodate the increasing numbers of visitors.
The changing face of industrialisation in the North West of England and in the Midlands, with increasing pay rates and the provision of paid time off for industrial workers, allowed many people to enjoy an annual holiday for the first time. Many chose to visit the seaside and resorts such as Llandudno, Prestatyn and Rhyl in North Wales, Aberystwyth and Barmouth in Mid Wales and Tenby, Swansea and Penarth in South Wales as well as many others were developed to cope with this burgeoning new trend.
[edit] Infrastructure
Wales is well connected to the rest of the United Kingdom (its principal tourist market) by a good road and rail network, as well as a good domestic air network. The airport at Cardiff serves as the main international gateway to Wales; it also carries a number of domestic flights. There also a number of budget airlines operating out of Cardiff, offering cheap flights. These are increasingly popular with tourists from within the European Union.
The country is also connected to the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland by car ferry services operating daily from a number of Welsh ports.
[edit] Tourist destinations in Wales
There are several cities and towns which tourists visit in Wales.
- Cardiff is the capital city. The Cardiff Bay area has become the new heart of Cardiff; it has vibrant bars, clubs and restaurants, and includes the world-standard Wales Millennium Centre Opera house. The city's other major tourist attractions include Cardiff Castle and the Millennium Stadium. It has several higher education establishments including the well-established Cardiff University.
- Swansea is the second largest city in the country. Its attractions include the National Waterfront Museum, Dynamic Rock, the Mumbles Lighthouse and the Swansea Bay itself. The city has the well-established University of Wales, Swansea.
There are several features of the Welsh landscape that are popular with visitors:
- Snowdon is the highest mountain in Wales and a popular mountaineering destination.
- Pen y Fan is the highest peak in the Brecon Beacons.
[edit] See also
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