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UK and Welsh Government ministers give evidence on Wales as a global tourist destination

26 January 2023

The Welsh Affairs Committee hears from ministers of the UK and Welsh governments alongside tourism organisations VisitBritain/VisitEngland and Visit Wales, in the final session of its inquiry into Wales as a global tourist destination.

Witnesses

Wednesday 1 February, Committee Room 8, Palace of Westminster

 At 10.00am

  • Vaughan Gething MS, Minister for Economy, Welsh Government
  • Heledd Owen, Deputy Director of Marketing, Welsh Government
  • Jason Thomas, Director of Culture, Sport and Tourism, Welsh Government

At 10.45am

  • Rt Hon Stuart Andrew MP, Minister for Sport, Tourism and Civil Society at Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
  • Duncan Parish, Deputy Director for Tourism and Cultural Diplomacy at Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
  • Patricia Yates, Chief Executive at VisitBritain/VisitEngland

The session will see issues raised over the course of the inquiry put to witnesses. MPs will have the opportunity to explore how the Welsh Government and Visit Wales, and the UK Government and Visit Britain, are working together to improve Wales’ performance in attracting worldwide tourism.

The first panel, with Welsh Government Economy Minister Vaughan Gething MS, will consider how Wales is currently marketed as a tourism destination, and Visit Wales’ relationship with Visit Britain and the Welsh tourism sector. The Committee will also likely ask for an update on the Welsh Government’s tourism tax.

The second panel, with UK Government Tourism Minister Stuart Andrew MP, is likely to discuss concerns raised in evidence that VisitBritain’s close connection with VisitEngland might lead to conflicting priorities, as well as reports from Welsh tourism organisations of minimal engagement with VisitBritain.

Further information

Image: Parliament copyright