Tourism News
Brian Richardson Retires from The Caravan Club
Executive Secretary Brian Richardson retired from The Caravan Club in September after 11 years with the organisation. The Club said “Prior to joining us, Brian enjoyed a highly successful career as a Commander in the Royal Navy, and served in both the Falklands Conflict and First Gulf War.
At the Club, Brian was responsible for co-ordinating business through its committee structure and administering regional and local group activities. He represented the Club’s interests on various external councils and committees, covering subjects such as tourism, the environment, planning and Parliamentary interests.
Brian, a keen fisherman, lives in Langstone, Hampshire, and is married to Jacquie, a retired junior school teacher. They have two grown up sons. The Club would like to express its deep thanks to Brian for all his hard work and considerable achievements over the years.”
Brian commented “It’s been a pleasure and a privilege to work in such a unique organisation which is totally member facing. I have really enjoyed the honour of working with such a happy and well co-ordinated team. I shall miss it.”
And all of us at the WTA will miss you Brian; we are very grateful for all the help and support that you gave to the tourism industry in Wales over many years. We hope that you will continue to come here - for the fishing!
Finishing touches put to Cardigan Castle £4.5m bid
The Cadwgan Building Preservation Trust plans to convert Cardigan Castle into a heritage centre, with a Welsh language school. The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) awarded the group £300,000 in 2008, which was used to employ staff and pay fees.
The trust said it was confident the bid would be viewed favourably when submitted at the end of September. The trust has to match fund the money, and has applied to the Welsh Assembly Government, the European Union and trusts for additional money towards the £9.5m renovation project. It also has to raise £150,000 towards the building costs.
The trust is working with Ceredigion Council and the Prince's Regeneration Trust to transform the castle, which is said to have been the birthplace of the National Eisteddfod in 1176. It is hoped that some stanchions placed on the derelict building more than 40 years ago to improve its stability, will finally be removed next year.
Crickhowell’s Tretower Court re-opens
Following a major two-year conservation programme by Cadw, Tretower Court near Crickhowell is now fully open to visitors. Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones formally launched the opening of Tretower Court accompanied by the living history group Marcher Stuarts at Cadw’s stand at the recent Eisteddfod in Ebbw Vale.
The painstaking work programme at Tretower has included the renewal of the stone tile roofs and the replacement of timber screens on the ground floor of the west range. Colourful textiles, room furnishings and striking furniture designs complement the impressive Welsh gentry house.
The conservation has been enhanced by a new approach to presentation of this significant multi-period building, presenting visitors with a colourful evocation of the house in the time of Sir Roger Vaughan as well as re-creating the Court’s medieval garden.
Three Blue Flags lost in North Wales
Due to the heavy rain, Llandudno's west shore, Penmaenmawr and Llanfairfechan beaches have failed water quality tests and have lost their Blue Flags. The sea had been affected by the rivers that drain into it but it was hoped that none of the other 42 Blue Flag beaches in Wales would be hit as the award was important for tourism.
The Environment Agency, the Local Authority and Dwr Cymru had to deal with a burst rising main to a sewage treatment plant near Kinmel Bay, Conwy on 26 August. This resulted in some raw sewage being discharged to the nearby tourist beach and at least part of the beach was closed to public use following assessment by the local environmental health officers overnight.
New section of the All Wales Coastal Path in Carmarthen
A new 4½ mile stretch of the Wales Coast Path is now open; it provides a scenic link for walkers travelling from Pendine in Carmarthenshire to the Pembrokeshire border. Taking in both the Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion Coast Paths, the new section makes it possible to walk all the way from Pendine in Carmarthenshire to Borth in Ceredigion.
The Welsh Assembly Government is committed to creating a continuous 850 mile path that runs right around the coastline of Wales by 2012, and has been investing in access improvements in partnership with the Countryside Council for Wales. A new section of the Wales Coast Path in the Gower will also be officially opened shortly.
For the late May Bank Holiday in 2012, read June Bank Holidays (plural)
The Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012 to mark 60 years of the Queen’s reign will centre on the first week of June with a special four day Jubilee weekend. This will entail putting back the late May Bank Holiday until Monday 4 June and with an additional Jubilee Bank Holiday on Tuesday 5 June; it is expected that all schools will have their half term that week.
Mistake in the Dictionary
The Tourism Society report that the Oxford English Dictionary has recognised 'staycation' as an official word, although the definition it has given has it as a synonym for 'domestic tourism' rather than the original meaning of 'taking a holiday without actually going anywhere'.
So we now seem to be stuck with this; the meaning seems to have been changed by those in the media who think that a proper vacation has to involve going abroad.