 I want to share some thoughts on the recent announcement by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) regarding the closure of three visitor centres in our region — Bwlch Nant yr Arian near Aberystwyth, Ynyslas, and Coed y Brenin near Dolgellau. These closures, aimed at addressing a £13 million budget shortfall, have understandably raised concerns within our tourism community.
Mid Wales is a rural area with a delicate economy, and decisions like this can have far-reaching consequences. These visitor centres play a crucial role in attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, supporting local jobs, and sustaining our towns and communities. The potential loss of over 260 jobs as a result of these closures would be a significant challenge for our region to absorb. Tourism is the second-largest employer in Mid Wales, and over the past few years our sector has faced numerous uncertainties. The news of these closures adds to the anxiety felt by many of our members. We are calling on NRW to carefully consider the impact of this decision on our communities and businesses and are urging them to find new management partners before closing these centres. Closing them without a clear plan for the future could have a lasting impact on our region. While we understand the financial pressures faced by the Welsh Government and NRW, it's important to balance these concerns with the well-being of our local communities and businesses. We believe that thoughtful decision-making, which takes into account the unique challenges of rural areas like Mid Wales, is crucial. We plan to raise this issue at the upcoming Mid Wales Tourism Regional Forum on behalf of our businesses. Additionally, we will be writing to our Members of the Senedd to encourage the Welsh Government to reconsider this decision. It’s important to highlight that if these sites close before new management partners are found, the impact on our region and the tourism sector could be significant. We believe that with careful consideration and collaboration, we can find a way to mitigate these potential challenges and protect the future of tourism in Mid Wales. Our goal is to ensure that these vital centres remain operational, supporting our economy and the communities that rely on them. By working together, we can help safeguard the future of our region. If any members wish to discuss the direct impacts these closures may have on their businesses, please reach out to me directly [email protected] The more examples we can gather, the stronger our case will be. If you have any figures on the number of visitors you receive from these sites, or any figures you could share which could strengthen our efforts please get in touch. Zoe Hawkins Chief Executive MWT Cymru
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 Visit Wales have announced extended entry deadlines for all regional tourism awards in Wales: National Tourism Awards for Wales 2025 – revised application deadlines The deadline for our Mid Wales Tourism Awards has also been extended to midnight on 6 September 2024 so you have as much time to enter as businesses in other regions! We know it's a busy time for you all, but please use this extension to enter the awards if you haven't already done so, and polish your entry 'til it shines! If you've already entered - thank you and good luck! https://www.midwalestourismawards.co.uk/
In this session, guest speakers Jaymie Thomas and Jon Prescott will answer your questions about digital marketing and SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), and show you how you can take advantage of AI tools and techniques to help sharpen your online presence and reduce admin time to do it. Got a burning question? Something that's not clear, or that you always wondered about? Just let us know and we'll answer it during the session. Guest Speakers
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Send your news to [email protected] by Tuesday 27th August 2024. News received by this date will be included in our MWT collective update to VisitBritain to meet their end of August deadline. If you receive 2025 information after this date please do continue to share it with us after the deadline, by email to [email protected] and to [email protected] Please call or email Claire at MWT on 01654 702653 / [email protected] if you have any questions. “Have to say that zoom call was so interesting and the possibilities for our business and what's in the pipeline is just huge!”
Clive, Meadow Springs Country & Leisure Park Did you miss our last Zoom workshop? Don't worry, we recorded it! Discover practical tips and tricks to implement AI in your business right now including a demonstration of ChatGPT in action. Thank you everyone who came along to Lorna and Jo's open day in Newtown last month. It was great to see you all. If you couldn't make it, contact Beyond Breakout any time to explore opportunities for collaboration. Add an extra special touch to your visitors' experience with Beyond Breakout's outdoor escape activities that come directly to you! Beyond Breakout is currently based on the fourth floor of the Royal Welsh Building (post code SY16 1BJ) but will be converting to a mobile business from September 1. “Far from losing a popular local attraction, this is a chance for accommodation providers and venues to bring an activity to their site, to entertain their guests,” said co-founder Lorna. The business organises pop up and outdoor games that are perfectly suited to tourism businesses looking to offer something different to engage and entertain their guests. Email Beyond Breakout at [email protected] for more information. More details on www.beyondbreakout.co.uk and new website coming soon!
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