Tourism on Snowdon. Image by Hefin Owen (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Gareth Williams, local democracy reporter

Ensuring that the people of Gwynedd benefit more from the tourism industry and its “very low” wages has been identified as a cornerstone of the agency’s new visitor strategy.

A draft report presented to Cabinet Tuesday said the tourism sector had grown to over £ 1.35 billion to the local economy prior to Covid-19. Each year, 7.81 million visitors are expected to help employ more than 18,200 people.

However, based on data from the Scarborough Tourism Economic Assessment Monitor (STEAM) model, which calculates the value of the tourism sector, it has also been found that the wage level in Gwynedd is “very low” compared to other sectors and other areas.

Covid-19 has been labeled as “highlighting some things that need attention” and a lack of variety in the county’s rural economy with an “excessive reliance on tourism in some areas” has been noted.

Given that workers in parts of Gwynedd are among the worst-paid in the UK, the report also raised concerns about a “lack of tourism balance” intended to “increase pressure on key honeysuckle and its impact on communities the Welsh language ”.

With the aim of consulting both tourism providers and local communities before adoption, the agency hopes to have a new tourism strategy in place by the end of the year.

‘Quality’

Decision-makers believe this strategy will be based on the United Nations World Tourism Organization guidelines that “respect the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities” and “provide socio-economic benefits to all fairly distributed stakeholders, including stable employment and income opportunities and social services to host communities and contribution to fight poverty. “

The draft report describes that Gwynedd should strive for a visitor economy that:

  • Celebrate, respect, and protect communities, language, culture, and heritage;
  • Cares for and respects the environment;
  • Ensures that the benefits to Gwynedd communities outweigh the disadvantages

This includes offering “quality year-round employment opportunities for the local population”, strengthening local supply chains and balancing the economy, environment and communities.

Cllr Gareth Thomas, the portfolio owner for economic development, said tourism is “clearly important” and is one of the largest industries in the county.

“Covid and its impact on tourism have increased the need to review and agree new policy for the future,” he added, noting that the process is looking at other areas around the world and with the sector itself and the National Park Authority would discuss as well as local communities.

“The vision is a visitor economy that will benefit the people of Gwynedd,” continued Cllr Thomas.

“I’d say the emphasis over the years has been on the visitor, but we’re turning that on its head and a visitor economy that puts the people of Gwynedd first.”

Porthmadog is one of the hardest hit cities in England and Wales. Image by Bert Kaufmann (CC BY-SA 2.0).

“Problems”

Cllr Dafydd Meurig, Vice-Chair added, “If (the industry) was not going to benefit the people of Gwynedd and just create problems, there would be no point in having one so I am fully supportive.

“However, from the figures reported in the report, it can be concluded that there has been no significant or specific benefit to the site in the past having more than £ 1.3 billion generated by visitors employing 18,200 people, which means only one very small percentage of this £ 1.3 incurred bn ends up in the salary packages of the local population according to these figures.

“Certainly there have been more problems than benefits in some communities, so I support the draft principles and welcome the consultation in the hope that they will be supported by industry and local communities.”

Members approved the organization of spring and summer consultations involving the sector and residents ahead of an autumn conference and approved the new plan to be implemented in early 2022.

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