§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any proposals to enable the Wales tourist board to market overseas the attractions of tourism in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsThe overseas marketing of Wales as a tourist destination is one of the responsibilities of the British Tourist Authority. However, the Wales tourist board, with the agreement of the BTA, can undertake overseas promotion of Wales on behalf of the authority.
§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total revenue from overseas tourism in Wales in 1989 and in the previous three years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsThe Wales tourist board estimates that revenue from overseas tourism in Wales in 1989 on the basis of the returns for the first three quarters of the year will be around £100 million. Figures for the three previous years are as follows:
£ million 1986 102 1987 119 1988 98 Source: International Passenger Survey.
The implementation of the recommendations of last year's tourist review of the British Tourist Authority, undertaken by the Secretary of State for Employment, is intended to improve the marketing of Britain as a whole, and should thus be of direct benefit to Wales. The Secretary of State and I shall be monitoring the effectiveness of these changes as they relate to the promotion of Wales.