© Crown copyright (2012) Visit Wales
Overnight visitors to Wales spend almost £2 billion a year, whilst day visitor spending adds a further £1.5 billion a year to the economy.
Local authorities are essential to the delivery of successful tourist experiences in Wales. Even though tourism is not a statutory function for local authorities, it is a role that is taken very seriously – particularly in some authorities where it can account for a substantial amount of the locality’s GDP. Local authorities play an important role in marketing their area to the wider world and in providing information and signposting services at the destination level.
Furthermore, local authorities are involved in many aspects of local services, which impact on a tourist’s experience including planning decision, right of way/access, traffic circulation, transport, public amenities and environmental quality.
At a local level, the 22 local authorities currently work within 14 marketing areas. These marketing areas print their own marketing materials, develop websites and respond to enquiries. Tourism Information Centres (TICs) are also important facilities provided by many local authorities in Wales.
The Historic Environment is all the physical evidence and material remains of past human activity that has been left in the landscapes of our towns and countryside.
This includes archaeology (sites and monuments), the built heritage (historic buildings and settlements) and historic landscapes (parks or gardens). It covers the whole spectrum of human creations from towns, cathedrals, castles and highways to the very smallest – signposts, standing stones or buried flint tools.
The historic environment is the tangible, physical aspect to our culture. It can encourage regeneration and be a powerful contributor to people’s quality of life. Local planning authorities have a pivotal role in protecting the historic environment and in engaging communities.
The WLGA is a member of The Historic Environment Group (HEG), which advises the Welsh Government on action to benefit and promote the historic environment of Wales.