Welsh Government’s rural tourism policies in need of overhaul, says National Assembly committee

16 February 2010

A major review of Welsh Government policies is needed to further develop the rural tourism industry in Wales, according to a new report from the National Assembly for Wales.

The Cross-Party Rural Development Sub-Committee found that the wide variety of policies and strategies already in place to assist the sector are confusing and obscure. According to evidence received from some witnesses, there is also little or no connection between them.

The Committee was told that in some cases there were plenty of resources applied to coming up with policies and ideas but less resources available to implement them.

It’s recommended an overhaul of all available schemes with more effort directed towards making them simpler and more transparent.

Chair of the Committee, Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM, said: “The tourism industry in Wales is worth an estimated £6 billion a year with almost two thirds of that generated in the rural counties.

“What this report shows is how the people working in this industry are succeeding despite a mishmash of policies with little coherence or co-operation between them.

“This Committee is pleased with the attention the Welsh Government gives to developing the industry but feels it is over-egging the pudding.

“We have identified areas such as development funding, rural transport links and broadband coverage as priorities for the industry and call on the Welsh Government to include these in a simpler, more coherent set of policies to help develop this important sector of the Welsh economy.”

ENDS