Tourism chiefs expect good Easter

The Talyllyn Railway says the trend of rising visitor numbers is continuing

Tourist officials say they are hopeful of a bumper Easter and confident that visitor numbers will continue to grow this summer.

Figures show that visitors to Wales spent £1.76 billion in 2003 - an increase of 14%, at a time when spend in the UK as a whole was down 1%.

Wales Tourist Board chairman Philip Evans said: "These figures are extremely encouraging indicators that our collective efforts to boost the tourism industry in Wales are having an impact."

The VisitWales centre reports an increase in the volume of calls from people asking for information on Easter.

Accommodation is reported to be filling up quickly with the majority of self-catering accommodation in the areas of Tenby, mid Wales, Snowdonia and Anglesey already fully booked.

Tropical

Mid Wales Tourism Partnership's regional strategy director Dee Reynolds said: ""All sectors are reporting advanced bookings that are better than they have been over previous years."

The Dyfi Valley Attractions Consortium - which includes Celtica near Machynlleth and the Centre for Alternative Technology - have reported that the numbers of visitors are up on this time last year over the last two weekends.

Ann Cruickshank, the manager at King Arthur's Labyrinth, near Machynlleth, said visitor numbers had risen by about 50%.

She said: "We're doing very well, we can't believe the number of people we've had through this week, it's caught everyone a little on the hop."

Coach party and group bookings at the Talyllyn Railway in south Gwynedd, which is in the middle of a £1.5m museum and restaurant redevelopment, are "well up" on last year.

Attractions such as Celtica near Machynlleth have got the season off to a good start

David Leech, the railway's traffic manager said: "It's a little surprising at the moment as the weather isn't exactly tropical.

"Easter is a little earlier this year and we've picked up visitors who tried us during the foot-and-mouth outbreak and enjoyed it because they felt it was like the Lake District but without the traffic."

Assembly Economic Development Minister Andrew Davies said: "Tourism plays a crucial part in the Welsh economy and these figures show the progress we have made in recent years. I'm hopeful that 2004 will be even more successful."

The Wales Tourist Board will be conducting research work following the Easter holiday, the results of which will be ready later this month.