WIREDGOV

Wales Office Minister Lord Bourne yesterday said everybody in Wales has a responsibility to promote the country and strengthen our growing tourism industry.

Speaking during the visits to Cardiff Castle and the SWALEC cricket stadium, he called on people across the whole country to play their part to promote Wales and boost the Welsh economy.

Cardiff Castle is Wales’ most visited tourist attraction and the SWALEC stadium will host one of the Ashes tests later this year. Lord Bourne will visit the venues to see how they are preparing for a busy tourism season this summer.

Tourism is Wales’ second-largest industry and is a vital part of the Welsh economy. Tourism figures published this month in the Great Britain Tourism Survey confirmed that tourism in Wales has just had its best-ever year.

Expenditure on visits to Wales in 2014 increased by 2.3 per cent compared with 2013. The total expenditure in Wales of £1,735m is the highest recorded since records began in 2006.

Lord Bourne said:

I am delighted that Cardiff Castle and the SWALEC stadium are so well prepared for the busy summer season.

Tourism is an essential part of the Welsh economy and we all have a responsibility to help the industry succeed. Building a successful tourist industry helps generate investment and create jobs across the whole country.

People travel from all over the world to tour our castles, walk our coastlines and enjoy Welsh food, drink and hospitality. So I want everybody in Wales to follow President Obama’s lead and encourage people to visit Wales.