Concerns Over Proposed Visitor Centre Closures in Mid Wales

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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