On St David’s Day (1 March) Visit Wales has strengthened its relationship with the Coach Tourism Association by becoming a new Partner Member.
The importance of working together on tourism issues and opportunities for Wales in the coach operating sector has been highlighted during the pandemic and Visit Wales is pleased to formalise the already strong relationship with the association through this new partnership.
Clare Dwight, Visit Wales says: “We recognise the importance of the coach touring sector to the tourism industry in Wales and really welcome all the visitors that domestic coach operators bring to our country. We’re very much looking forward to welcoming you and your clients to Wales again as soon as it is safe to do so.
“We have thousands of businesses all across Wales in the ‘We’re good to go’ scheme and have also seen our accommodation, attractions and operators innovate to offer new experiences. We are looking forward to sharing the latest product ideas and itineraries for Wales with CTA members. In 2021 we’re celebrating a Year of Outdoors in Wales and there’s no better time to plan trips to our country.”
Robert Shaw, CTA chair, adds: “We are delighted that Visit Wales has become a Partner and look forward to working closely with them to promote more opportunities for coach groups to see the very best of the wonders that Wales has on offer.”
The aim of the new partnership is to encourage more coach operators and their clients to discover what Wales has to offer, especially:
• The Wales Way – a family of three national routes which highlights adventure, culture and landscape.
• To sign up to our ‘Addo’ pledge – to care for each other, our communities and the epic land of Wales.
• And a reminder that Covid restrictions are different in Wales and the Travel Trade website has the latest information for coach and group visits to Wales.
CTA coach tour operators and wholesalers are asked to sign-up to the Visit Wales e-newsletter to keep updated.
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Image: St David’s Cathedral. Crown Copyright.
Notes for Editors:
CTA Partner Members play a key role in supporting the organisation’s work and engage with its members through all its digital channels and in-person events (once these restart). Visit Wales becomes the latest Partner Member, joining CalMac Ferries, DFDS, Tourism Ireland and VisitScotland.
The Wales Way is a family of three national routes that lead visitors along the west coast, across North Wales, and through Wales’ mountainous heartland:
• The Cambrian Way is a complete north-south journey from Llandudno to Cardiff along the spine of Wales. At 185 miles (300km) long, it winds through two National Parks – Snowdonia and the Brecon Beacons – with the Cambrian Mountains in-between.
• The Coastal Way runs the entire length of Cardigan Bay. It’s a 180-mile (290km) route. The start and end points – Aberdaron and St Davids – are both ancient pilgrimage destinations. Harbour towns, fishing villages and secret coves scatter the route.
• The North Wales Way follows the old trading route along our northern coast from Holyhead to Broughton. The 75-mile (120km) trail is lined with resort towns and castles. Visitors are encouraged to explore the Vales of Clwyd and Conwy, the mountains of Snowdonia, the Menai Strait, and the isle of Anglesey.
The focus of addo is a pledge that we’re encouraging everyone travelling around Wales to get behind, to do the little things that make a big difference. To make a promise together, to ‘Addo’ (the Welsh word for ‘to promise’) as we prepare to start exploring again, to care for each other, our land and for our communities. The pledge can be signed virtually on the Visit Wales website.
Covid restrictions are different in Wales to the other U.K. nations and the Travel Trade website has the latest information for coach and group visits to Wales. The Coronavirus control plan: alert levels in Wales remains Wales’s key planning tool.
Sign-up to the Visit Wales e-newsletter to keep updated.
For more information, contact:
Helen Bowron, CTA Communications Director
helen.bowron@coachtourismassociation.co.uk 07803131582
Heledd Parry, Visit Wales/Welsh Government Press Office: heledd.parry@gov.wales
