§ 7. Mr. Gowerasked the President of the Board of Trade what information he has of overseas visitors to Wales during the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftI regret that there are no official statistics. I understand, however, that the British Travel & Holidays Association has estimated that the number of people from overseas who visited Wales in 1955 was of the order of 100,000.
§ Mr. GowerIn Wales, as in other parts of the United Kingdom, the tourist industry is potentially one of the best earners of foreign currency. Can my right hon. Friend therefore say what his Department can do to help the Welsh Tourist Board, financially or otherwise, and further, can he explain why the Secretary of State for Scotland was able to give very precise figures relating to the Scottish Tourist Board? Why is there not a similar interest taken in this matter in England and in Wales?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftThe British Travel and Holidays Association has given these estimates—I emphasise that they are no more than estimates—in the case of both Scotland and Wales. I would not vouch for their accuracy, but they are the best estimates which can be given.