Wales has hosted a major FAM trip event aimed at significantly boosting the country’s international tourist visitor numbers.
The 3-day event, hosted by Visit Wales, featured major tour operators from around the world and was targeted directly at attracting visitors from key tourist markets like the US and mainland Europe.
VisitWales said “key markets” generated 275,000 bed nights in the principality last year, at a total value of almost £18m.
Of that, the bulk was generated from UK and Irish operators and visitors.
According to Visit Wales, this week’s Discover Wales event garnered a lot of positive feedback, with 70% of tour operators interested in selling more on Wales and a third of operators showing “strong interest”.
Dawn Bowden, the Welsh Government’s Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism told Nation Cymru: “We know how vital the travel trade is to generate tourism business to Wales, especially internationally, and fits our tourism strategy to support the three Ss: seasonality, spread and spend.
“We appreciate the significant role that inbound tour operators play in taking Wales products to international markets where they are active. I’m sure that the tour operators will leave Wales having seen what a world class product we have here – and we look forward to welcoming them – and their clients – back to Wales soon.”
