'Shush, or they'll all want to come!'
Post categories: Buckley, Chirk, Connah's Quay, Corwen, Denbigh, Denbighshire, Flint, Flintshire, Holywell, Hot Topics, Llangollen, Mold, Music / Entertainment, Photos, Prestatyn, Rhyl, Ruthin, Shotton, Wrexham
| 09:08 UK time, Tuesday, 3 February 2009
I was reading this morning that www.northwalesborderlands.co.uk, a partnership promoting tourism in Wrexham, Flintshire and Denbighshire, is to have a big push to bring more Britons to our area this year. [don't mention the credit crunch]
As I was reading the article I was thinking 'about time too', because it has always struck me when walking the Clwydian Range just how void of people the area is. I grew up in the Midlands and when we went walking in the Peak District the world and his dog was there.
In fact, looking down from Thorpe Cloud people looked like ants crawling over the landscape below - and that's something you never say about Moel Famau.
In the 10+ years I've been here I've always thought we could be going more to bring in the tourists. But then I read the line in the same article that says tourism was worth £334m to NE Wales in 2007.
Now whilst that's impressive, imagine how much more we could be pulling in if we could sell our fantastic landscape to other Brits. Maybe we should be marketing ourselves as the best kep secret.
Suggested slogan: 'Shush, or they'll all want to come!'
Any other ideas?
Fingers crossed the official campaign will be a success.
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~28~RS~)
Comments
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I've lived in Eryrys for 5 years now and spent 20 years in Cheshire previous to this. The Clwydian range was something we saw from the car windows on the A55 when we left Cheshire to take in the tourist spots of Betws Y Coed, Llandudno etc.
I commented on the beauty of this area to a golfing buddy during one round of golf at Mold Golf Course. I mentioned how I had come to appreciate what I had missed over the years when bypassing this area on the A55.
He told me that over the years he had discussed this with other locals and come to the conclusion that this area was one of Wales best kept secrets and long may it continue!
The area is enhanced by the absence of tourist traps. I'm sure local pubs and gift shops would disagree but I'm happy for the status quo to continue.
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The area is beautiful and whilst I appreciate the view that it's a shame to share it, sharing it as a 'premium' tourist attraction is what should happen.
I guess the trick is to market the area in such a way so that's it's not devalued in any way. The incoming money to the area can only help can't it?
I live on The Wirral and it's amazing just how many people drive over at the weekends to go walking in the hills. I wonder how many people from further afield visit and stay over in cottages/B&B's etc?
John
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Money coming into the area from tourists is most welcome to support the existing infrastructure but do we want to see this expanded ?
Cornwall is a good example in point. Its still beautiful but blighted by congestion, weekend home owners and a plethora of Fish & Chip shops !
The existing low population density is much appreciated by current residents, I would argue.
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Never been to Cornwall but have been to Devon. Fair point ...again lovely place but really, really busy.
Maybe it's a case of not over-egging the pudding? Perhaps do enough promotion to maintain or (more practically) moderately increase visitor levels but attempt to not do much more than that?
Not an easy balancing act is it?
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Lucky enough to live near chester so able to travel into wales on a regular and must admit the area does seem unchanged and beautiful, was up walking a few months back near Moel Findeg (for fossils near the quarries) and couldn't believe how empty it was. But that's the real attraction of the place as we met only one other person, and it's the isolation that makes it the more unspoilt and pleasant and can't help but feel it's best left that way. anyhow just my tuppence[Unsuitable/Broken URL removed by Moderator]
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It is true some areas that encourage tourists have not managed visitors with care and consideration of host communities, however here in The Borderlands businesses and local authorities are sympathetic to preserving the unique and special nature of our area. There is plenty of room for visitors and much for them to do and see. Whether visits are by business people to world class business parks and centres for research and develoment, for visiting friends and relations or for enjoying the cultural, historical and sporting buildings / events. Or for our world renowned spectatular mountains, hills, coasts, valleys, meadows, forest, woods, rivers and lakes in which all kinds of activities such as mountain biking, hill walking, fishing, sailing, canoeing, horseriding, golfing, eating, drinking and enjoying some of the finest local produce and crafts in high class pubs, restauarants, cafes, shops, hotels, cottages, log cabins, Inns, camping and caravan sites.
Vistors to The Borderlands can be confident of a quality welcome and a memorable experience.
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I'm sure the North Wales tourist board could do more to promote the area to mainland Europe. I work with a number of Dutch companies and always make a point of taking visitors (when their schedule permits) to Llangollen, Moel Famau, Llandudno or Conway. They are always impressed by the beauty of the area, not just the scenery but the cosy pubs, stately homes and the castles - all the things we take for granted. Seems like a lot of Dutch people who visit Britain take the overnight Rotterdam to Hull ferry, do the usual stopover in York or Harrogate then head west to Holyhead to take the ferry to Ireland. So the only view they get of North Wales is from the A55. If more people new, more people would stay, and not only discover the delights of the area but also find out how much more they get for their euros.
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The hinterland areas of North East Wales, from the Vale of Clwyd to the Vale of Llangollen are often overlooked by 'Tourists' who head for the traps of Betws y Coed and the coastal resorts. For visitors looking for a real slice of Wales, 'The Vale of Clwyd' and its surrounding areas offers stunning beauty, culture and a real sense of place. We do need to encourage more independent tourists to enjoy the area, but coach loads of mass tourists would do more harm than good.
Its no wonder that the are has been overlooked by visitors for so many years, as we've always been overlooked by our Tourism authorities and officers - who have designated the area under the meaningless 'Borderlands' heading.
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I posted on this earlier today at GratisGuidance.co.uk. I find that the only issue for the Borderlands area is that it is competing with another area of equally outstanding views so close by.
I was in a meeting with one of the organisation which is doing great things in helping promote this great looking secret, Cadwyn Clwyd. They help rural projects get off the ground and are doing a great job. However, again, we are naturally comparing it with Snowdonia which gets much more EU funding to support it.
From a business perspective, it isn't the Brits we need holidaying in the borderlands, but the rest of the world. During this economic downturn, the clever money is exporting and that is something the tourist industry is very good at doing - even if it does sound odd! We need to appeal to the Germans, the Austrians, the French and the Americans to come and stay. Use the fine hotels and guest houses throughout Flintshire as a base, and go visit the area and the rest of the UK from here.
Assuming that Visit Wales are doing as well as the Welsh Tourist Board used to do, you can be assured that the Borderlands booklet can be found all over Europe and that is a good thing.
The trick is to make sure these tourists don't just carry on up the A55!
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For many years Borderlands and TPNW have tended to concentrate only on Llangollen and Betws y Coed as a simple quick return on investment in tourism promotion. There is much to be said for the solitude of the Clwydian Range but with the small towns of the Vale of Clwyd slowly contracting commercially and becoming less attractive for the independent overseas visitor it is essential that the official organisers and promoters of tourism get their acts together as soon as possible.It is the independent tourist who contributes to the local economy by staying in the area, eating in the area and shopping in our small towns.We have many roads of good quality crossing NE Wales but all tourism has been encouraged for many years to concentrate on the A55 -- even the A5 is now a quiet through route, compared with 15 years ago. A strategy of good road signage with the development of recommended tourist routes would open up the small towns and intermediate villages without despoiling the area. A careful balance is essential and it is about time our professionally qualified tourism administraters started to earn their pay instead of looking towards their pensions.
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The North Wales Borderlands, an excellent title describing exactly what it says on the tin – The Borderlands of North Wales.
We're indeed fortunate to live and work in such a glorious place. I'm proud of it and want to ensure that others know of it. There is room for additional visitors as long as growth is anticipated and planned for.
Let's be creative about new businesses that can bring employment and wealth. Yes we have wonderful scenery, so how about a business which brought in visitors on short breaks to photograph the views on digital cameras, then teaches them how to manipulate their images on computer to the best advantage. Working in partnership with accommodation providers and restaurants would bring in very welcome finance to the area. The same could be said for guided tours of the RSPB sites on the Dee Estuary and elsewhere, historical tours – there's plenty of Mediaval and Roman facts and sites in the area, How about mountain biking three day courses, oil and water colour painting, horse riding, dry stone walling, hedge laying, rural crafts, orienteering weekends etc. the scope is limitless.
Support networks exist throughout the three counties to help any new business get started – first port of call – your tourism manager within the County or County Borough Council – the range of help and advice available may surprise.
The built environment is of significance to tourism and the maintenance of our infrastructure is very important. Visitors like to visit local shops in the centre of our towns, they don't come to browse the shelves in Tesco. All that can be done must be done to ensure our town centres are thriving, clean, well maintained, attractive and welcoming. Current 'Shop Doctor' initiatives are to be welcomed.
Existing well signposted tourism routes such as The Flintshire Leisure Drive and the Wrexham Church Tour are good in themselves but still have significant potential for building upon.
First impressions count and I'm afraid that the image of Flintshire, The North Wales Borderlands and Wales in general is severely tarnished by the visual images witnessed by those who have chosen the 'scenic' coast road entry into Wales. Significant improvements are required at many places along the A548.
So to visitors I say, come on in, you'll be made very welcome – and to county tourism departments – keep up the excellent work.
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