MP sees sunny outlook for West Wales tourism
West Wales MP Simon Hart has told local holiday park leaders that they are in the vanguard of the region’s “vibrant and ever-growing tourism economy”.
Mr Hart was at Cross Park Holiday Village in Kilgetty last week (16 September) where park owners and managers met for their end-of-summer conference.
Feedback from parks, the MP told delegates, suggested that many were reaping the benefits of the continued investment they had made in the quality of their product.
Families enjoying a park holiday in West Wales, he said, could be confident that their experience would be a match for the excellence of the natural surroundings.
The Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire MP was the principal speaker at the conference, organised by the West Wales branch of the British Holiday & Home Parks Association.
Branch director Huw Pendleton, who owns three top-rated parks in Pembrokeshire, welcomed Mr Hart at the end of what he said had been a very positive main season for members.
Parks had benefitted, he said, both from the good summer weather and movements in the exchange rate which made, for many people, a staycation preferable to travelling overseas.
Branch chairman Thomas Scarrott told Mr Hart that sales of holiday homes were also buoyant, signalling a long-term commitment by families to domestic holidays.
Mr Scarrott, whose Vale Holiday Parks owns seven parks in Wales, said the impact of spending by park visitors was felt by all types of businesses in the region.
The longer-term implications of the Brexit vote were also addressed by Mr Hart who said he believed that UK tourism would remain strong regardless of how EU negotiations concluded.
Areas such as West Wales, he said, had an enduring appeal both to British families and to visitors from overseas which would be undimmed by the final outcome.
Mr Pendleton thanked Mr Hart for attending the conference, and said branch members were pleased to be represented by an MP who demonstrated a clear understanding of their businesses.
As well as acting as West Wales branch director, Mr Pendleton is also vice president of the British Holiday & Home Parks Association, and has served for two years as its national chairman.
