WALES TRAVEL TRADE UPDATE – NOVEMBER 2021
For updated COVID-19 guidelines related to FIT and group visits, please go to our Travel Trade Website
Over 6000 businesses in Wales have signed up to the We’re Good to Go Scheme. The logo also appears alongside those businesses who also feature on our searchable online product listings.
Our Travel Trade Website has been updated with new content, it includes ideas for days out in a coach and regional introductions for groups as well as updated itinerary ideas across Wales.
North West Wales’ slate landscape awarded World Heritage status.
It is now Wales’ 4th UNESCO World Heritage site. Between 1780 and 1940 the slate industry dominated world production of roofing slates, transforming both the environment and the communities who lived and worked here. Today, there is plenty for visitors to discover and experience as the legacy of the industry continues to be recognised worldwide.
Read more here
The Wales Way continues to be a focus to increase visitors to Wales.
This one epic route includes three distinct journeys that cross the country, showcasing Wales’ fascinating history, coastlines, landscape and attractions.
The Wales Way was named among the 25 best trips in the world in 2020 by National Geographic. https://www.visitwales.com/the-wales-way-travel-trade
Caernarfon Castle has started a 2 year project to develop a new accessible visitor centre at the castle’s main entrance, the King’s Gate.
It will include an interactive experience, event space and improved retail space. It will also see new lift and stair access to the Town Walls, two new luxury apartments and significant conservation works to the walled town entrance.
https://cadw.gov.wales/travel-trade-group-visits
Caerphilly Castle is undergoing a £5million renovation scheme that includes a new visitor centre, catering, toilets, digital interpretation of the site and a 13th century makeover of the Great Hall. https://cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/caerphilly-castle
Cadw’s Tour Operator Scheme- https://www.cadwmembership.service.gov.wales/operators/
Alpine Travel’s Marine Drive Tour wins Tripadvisor award, a four mile drive around the Great Orme in Llandudno is recognised amongst the Best 10% of Attractions worldwide, based on outstanding 2019 Traveller Reviews. www.alpine-travel.co.uk/Great-orme
Penderyn Distillery has opened their new distillery in Llandudno and plan to open another site in Swansea in 2022. It will be housed in the historic Hafod Morfa Copperworks site. All distilleries include an exhibition area, shop, a tasting bar and a conference suite http://penderyn.wales/
Aber Falls Distillery offers a range of award-winning, premium gins and liqueurs and their single-malt whisky will be released autumn 2021. Distillery tours are offered and include master classes, lab experiences, and an opportunity to sample and purchase from the range of premium quality spirits. A new visitor centre and bistro is now open and in the coming months they will have a gin lab, where your clients can make their own gin. www.aberfallsdistillery.com
Hensol Gin Distillery at the Vale Resort is now open offering a craft spirit distillery, gin school, visitor experience, bonded warehouse and bottling plant. www.hensolcastledistillery.com
The National Botanic Garden of Wales has just opened a £7million Regency Restoration attraction. It includes a 1.5 km lake, a waterfall and a cascade, a 350 meter long dam, six bridges and accessible pathways. https://botanicgarden.wales
Vale of Rheidol Railway in Aberystwyth will see the conversion of existing engine shed into a new steam engine museum in 2022. Already completed is a new platform, ticket office, café, toilet block and new storage building for the heritage coaching stock. www.rheidolrailway.co.uk
Newport Transporter Bridge will open a new visitor centre with café, toilets and changing facilities, shop, exhibition gallery and community space in 2022. It is the world’s most complete surviving transporter bridge and only 1 of 8 remaining transporter bridges in the world. https://www.newport.gov.uk/heritage/en/Transporter-Bridge/Visit.aspx
Welsh Water Attractions have recently had a number of new developments to their sites including the opening of Llys-y-Frân Lake which has included the refurbishment and expansion of the visitor centre and café. It now offers a wide range of water and land-based activities such as walking, cycling, fishing, open water swimming, kayaking and stand up paddle boarding.
Elan Valley has opened two new man-made mounting biking skill tracks, a blue graded track for more intermediate mountain bikers and a red, more challenging track for the more advanced, experienced riders. The new tracks are free to use and highly accessible from the car park by Nantgwyllt Church. Bike hire is available. https://corporate.dwrcymru.com/en/community/explore-our-sites
Gwrych Castle will again be the setting for ITV’s ‘I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here’ in 2021 and key locations featured will be part of future tours.
The history of the site goes back 2000 years! Free parking is available for cars and coaches. Contact the castle for guided tours and group rates.
Anglo Welsh Waterways is now offering visitors to Trevor Basin the opportunity to enjoy a boat trip across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, aboard its newly refurbished trip boat ‘Seren Fach’. The 45min return trips take your clients across the World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, towering 38 metres (126 feet) high with amazing views across the Dee Valley. It runs daily (except Tuesdays) and can take up to 48 passengers. Refreshments are available on-board. www.anglowelsh.co.uk/weve-launched-a-new-trip-boat-at-trevor/
The National Trails in Wales has launched a new travel trade tool kit. The walking paths include the Wales Coast Path (celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2022), incorporating Pembrokeshire Coast Path and Glyndwrs Way. It includes walking itineraries, coach parking, places to eat and drink and did you know facts. www.walescoastpath.gov.uk
Saundersfoot will see the completion of a £9million redevelopment scheme. Phase two projects include Ocean Square Heritage & Arts Centre Retail, accommodation, visitor centre, Marine Centre of Excellence, Coastal Storm Centre and coastal schooner centre.
Hilton Garden Inn Snowdonia and Wave Garden Spa is now open. It is the first Hilton Garden Inn in Wales and one of the largest hotels in North Wales.
Located on the site of Adventure Parc Snowdonia and home to Wave Garden Spa, it is ideal for active and wellbeing holidays and exploring the surrounding beauty or the region. www.adventureparcsnowdonia.com
Tŷ Hotel Milford Waterfront is a new 100 bedroomed 3 star hotel is opening in Pembrokeshire spring 2022. It is part of The Celtic Collection (including Celtic Manor Resort). Their Tŷ Hotels brand includes Tŷ Magor and Tŷ Newport and will be targeting group business.
www.celtic-manor.com/hotels-lodges/ty-hotel/ty-milford-waterfront
The Parkgate Hotel in Cardiff is a new luxury 170 bedroom hotel due to open in October 2021. It is an exciting collaboration between the Welsh Rugby Union, property developer Rightacres, and The Celtic Collection. www.theparkgatehotel.wales
Old College Aberystwyth plans to open in March 2023. It will be a 4 star hotel with 31 rooms together with a 600 cover café bistro and 200 capacity function room. www.aber.ac.uk/en/oldcollege
Twr y Felin Hotel in St Davids now has a further 20 new bedrooms making a total of 41 rooms. It is Wales’ first contemporary art hotel and is part of The Retreats Group. The hotel and its sister properties are able to offer guided tours from the hotels with Shan’s Wales Tours. www.twryfelinhotel.com
The Chartist Tower, Newport will open in 2022. It is a 4 star, 150 bedroomed hotel by Mercure. It will be a good base for exploring South East Wales.
The Angel Hotel Abergavenny is working with local businesses and developing new product ideas and things to do for small groups. This includes group foraging trip with Brecon Beacons Foraging and tours, workshops and wellbeing sessions at Nant y Bedd Gardens. www.angelabergavenny.com
Adventure Tours UK is the first UK inbound tour operator to provide a carbon footprint label on all of its small group adventure holidays. From its multi-activity adventure breaks to wild wellness retreats and epic hiking experiences, Adventure Tours UK worked with ecollective, a forward-thinking sustainability consultancy, to measure the carbon footprint of every single group tour. https://adventuretoursuk.com
Boutique Tours Wales is celebrating its 10th anniversary and has launched a new website featuring a range of new itineraries with flexibility to custom design arrangements to suit your clients’ needs. John Hadwin specialises in private small tours for up to 7 passengers. It allows your clients to visit parts of Wales where coach tours can’t go and enable them to experience the real Wales by discovering hidden gems and spectacular scenery. www.boutiquetours.co.uk
Sean Westlake has launched Mid Wales Tours, UK’s only licenced motorcycle and sidecar tour. Sean is a former police motorcyclist and an official green badge Wales tourist guide for North Wales, offering full and half day tours of Mid and North Wales for two people. He can also arrange bespoke tours. Your clients will be provided with a commentary as they travel via a radio. Helmets and wet weather clothing can be provided if required. www.midwalestours.co.uk
Knowdonia, a small group tour business, has recently launched, offering customised itinerary-free private, group, single and multi-day tours for maximum of 8 people around Snowdonia and the wider North Wales area. www.knowdonia.com
Celtic Routes is a new way to discover West Wales and Ireland’s Ancient East. For Celtic inspiration visit https://celticroutes.info/
Cardiff Tours has launched two new Cardiff walking tours by Cardiff-based professional tourist guides, Lucy O’Donnell and Teleri Roberts. The Walking Tour of Cardiff Bay provides a fascinating insight into the history of Cardiff Docks and its pivotal role in the global iron and coal industries. The Walking Tour of Cardiff City explores the nooks and crannies of Cardiff city centre, revealing its inner secrets and the city’s captivating history. The tours for groups of up to 7, last 2 hours each and include a refreshment stop at a local café or pub.
Loving Welsh Food has launched a new Cosmopolitan Cardiff Food Tour. Your clients will be introduced to the different cultural cuisines offered in the capital city and learn about Cardiff’s varied and lively history. https://lovingwelshfood.uk/
Southern Wales Tourism has created a virtual familiarisation visit to help coach and tour operators plan tours to Southern Wales.
The virtual tour is guided by Steve Griffin from Griffin Guiding and he explores the coastline, Cardiff, castles, heritage railways and old coal mines.
National Churches Trust has unveiled a series of bespoke tours combining Wales’ sacred treasures and hidden gems as part of its ‘Exploring Sacred Wales’ programme. The website showcases the fascinating history and stunning art and architecture of over 500 historic places of worship across the country with suggested itineraries linking them together. www.explorechurches.org/cymru
As part of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council’s new tourism campaign, Dramatic Heart of Wales, a new destination website has been launched. A group travel guide featuring inspiring experiences for groups will be available on the website soon. www.dramaticheart.wales
WOTGA (Wales Official Tourist Guides Association) has increased its foreign language Blue Badge guides to help sell the country to a wider international market. 19 Blue Badge Linguist Guides from across the UK have successfully passed their endorsement course ‘Telling the Stories of South Wales. The languages include Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, Romanian, Dutch and more German guides. Wales already has 3 French, 2 Italian and 4 German speaking Welsh Blue Badge Guides. They are now running a second course, ‘Telling the stories of North Wales’ meaning languages available will also include Swedish and Russian. In addition, WOTGA has welcomed 7 new members as accredited Green Badge Tourist Guides for the South East region of Wales which includes the cities of Cardiff and Newport, Mid Wales, the Wye Valley and Brecon Beacons. There are also 6 new Guides for South West Wales and 10 for North Wales. https://www.walesbestguides.com