The special connection between agriculture and tourism in Wales was
celebrated by the Welsh Government at an event at the Royal Welsh
Show.
The Tourism and Agriculture Working Together event at the Welsh
Government Pavilion was hosted by Minister for Culture, Tourism and
Sport, to acknowledge strong and
enduring partnership between farming and tourism and to celebrate
the role that farmers, food producers and land managers play in
making Wales such a welcoming and top quality holiday and visitor
destination. It’s a partnership which the Minister was clear would
need to be maintained and strengthened if both industries were to
remain prosperous.
said:
“Today’s event is an opportunity for me to first and foremost
thank our farmers, food producers and land managers for their
role in making Wales the destination it is, whilst hopefully
opening a few doors to further future collaborations and
opportunities.
“Over 10 million people again chose to holiday in Wales last year
- over three times the population of Wales.
“Many come to Wales because of the famous ‘croeso’, which relies
on a delicately balanced ecosystem. Individuals, communities and
organisations working effectively together to keep our walkways
accessible, our beaches clean and our water clear. Suppliers,
producers and promoters recognising and championing the benefit
of quality, local produce. From star gazing to zip lining, Welsh
lamb to local beer and everything in between, it’s the quality of
the experience that makes people continue to choose Wales in such
large numbers, and the agricultural industry is right at the
heart of that.
“Whilst Brexit no doubt brings with it uncertainty, challenges
and change, particularly within the agricultural sector in Wales,
what’s beyond question is that the intrinsic link between
agriculture and tourism must and will remain.”
“Our focus and ambition for a tourism industry for the future
here in Wales is all about quality – quality of product, quality
of produce and quality of experience.
“There is strong evidence from across Wales that raising the bar
on quality breeds further success, and Visit Wales has already
shown its willingness to support projects that fulfil the
expectations of the most discerning visitors. It is important
that our industry is also market focused and we develop new
products that provide experiences and accommodation that satisfy
future consumer demands.
“This support is not only financial but also around a
collaborative way of marketing Wales, such as through our themed
years, and finding innovative ways both to reach new audiences
and ensure they have the best possible time here. The Wales Way,
for example, will encourage people to discover parts of rural
Wales they might otherwise not have considered.
“This is just one example of the hard work going on to make sure
Wales is the most forward looking, internationalist, confident
country it can be. By ensuring quality is at heart of everything
we do I’m confident we will be in the best possible position to
overcome the challenges of Brexit, helping us seize future
opportunities. A continued and strengthened partnership between
tourism and agriculture will be key to achieving this and I look
forward to developing this together.”
