Traditional hostilities aside, things are really looking up for the tourist sector in the ‘valleys’. It could be a whole bunch of things such as the hassle of being stranded at an airport, the high value of the pound, or the recession. Maybe people have woken up to the fact that it can be good to visit somewhere nearby for a change. It certainly is good news for Wales and Scotland, but not so good for the Spanish and Portugese.
The value of the pound has now made it more attractive for continental visitors to come to Wales. A fact that has not gone unnoticed by the Wales Tourist Board, who are currently in the process of appointing an agency to probe further into this area.
There is an increase of 5 per cent year on year to 48 per cent of people choosing to holiday in their own country, according to the European Commision. It is quite clear that there is a growing trend. You might see a visit to Wales or Scotland as a local one if you are English. It is not because we have some past feeling of domination, but more a question of similar national interests. It is a benefit to share the same currency, language and not be separated by water. Whilst being an English man through and through, I still consider holidays in Wales as a totally different event.
I am ashamed to say that my own experiences have been minimal, and generally limited to the north of Wales. An example of one of the best kind things to do in Wales would be a visit to the mountainous region of the Snowdonia National Park. I love the mountain region, and would naturally choose holiday cottages in Wales as my preferred accommodation. I stayed a long time ago in a lovely cottage, near to the beautiful Llanberis pass. We could see the rugged peaks of Mount Snowdon from there, and the twin lakes of Llyn Padam and Lyn Peris. You can walk one of the many routes to the summit or catch a train from Llanberis, which goes to over 3,000 feet.
