WELSH CONSERVATIVES DEBATE: Major Sporting Events

WELSH CONSERVATIVES DEBATE: Major Sporting Events

16:44
Janet Finch-Saunders
As a nation, of course, Wales does have a strong tradition for hosting major sporting events. We’ve welcomed teams and fans from every corner of the world and no more so than in the new park, Eirias, the new stadium in Darren Millar’s constituency, but which benefits my own constituency of Aberconwy, brining many people in.
From the Ryder Cup and Olympic and Paralympic Games to the Wales Rally GB and the British Speedway Grand Prix, these events, with their worldwide audiences have the potential to offer a huge boost to our tourism industry and subsequent growth to our economy, as we mark ourselves on a global stage. With over £3 billion injected into the Welsh economy each year from tourism, and 114,000 people relying on this industry for their employment, it is clear that this should be protected and also given the right conditions for expansion. For example, 2010 saw a 9 per cent increase in golf visitors to Wales during the year of the Ryder Cup, and £42 million was made from golfing tourism. That’s a 21 per cent increase.
It is the opportunity of tourism development in rural Wales that is of most interest to my constituents. With three national parks and a varied coastline, Wales has world-class facilities for outdoor and adventure activities. Outdoor activity tourism, such as white-water rafting and mountain biking, already puts £0.5 billion into the Welsh economy, supporting thousands of jobs, and I’d like to place on record my absolute admiration for the likes of Sean Taylor, with his entrepreneurial spirit and approach, bringing his varied and wide-ranging extreme sports to Wales. I know my colleague to my right, Suzy Davies, has actually experienced some of those extreme sports.
But Welsh Conservatives believe that more should be done to maximise the economic benefits. The continued hosting of major sporting events will always succeed in achieving this if the Welsh Government takes steps to tackle its overseas tourism strategy. Wales’s share of all international trips has gradually been falling, and between 2002 and 2012, the percentage of visitors choosing Wales over England, Ireland and Scotland has fallen from 3.6 per cent to 2.7 per cent. Over the border, the overseas market is cherished, coveted above all other tourism. This is the market that spends the most, having the greatest positive impact on the economy—a fact that the Welsh Labour Government appears to have completely disregarded, with Ministers previously calling the overseas market historically unimportant. This could be why long-haul markets are generally unaware of Wales, even in America, which, according to VisitBritain is one of three countries targeted by the Welsh Government. As such, I do urge the Welsh Labour Government to put in place a transparent tourism strategy for sport tourism, especially as we move closer to the Rugby World Cup in September.
But that’s not the end of it. There is much that can and should be done by the Welsh Government in order to maximise the potential benefits from hosting major sporting events. First, you must address our poor transport links. Wales’s bid to host the Champions League final was turned down based on the lack of international flights to Cardiff Airport. Only last month, many complained about the lack of forward planning of train operators, which led to overcrowding on Judgement Day at the Millennium Stadium. I frequently hear concerns from my constituents travelling by train to Cardiff when watching major fixtures. The Welsh Government must fine-tune its forward planning, working with Arriva Trains Wales to ensure demand is envisaged and planned for strategically. It’s the very least you would expect from any Government.
The following months and years will provide the Welsh Government ample opportunity to prove its capability of maximised benefits from hosting major sporting events: the Rugby World Cup, as I’ve mentioned, and the bid to hold the Commonwealth Games. The economic success of Wales depends on your positive action in this regard. You have the finances to do this, you have the levers and you have the tools: use them.