Wrexham Year of Culture 2011

2011 is an exciting year for the County of Wrexham. Not only is it hosting one of the world’s great festivals this summer but it is also celebrating its very own Year of Culture, with over 300 fabulous events taking place in its midst.

Described as “a cross between Glastonbury and the Edinburgh Festival”, it is hoped that Wrexham Year of Culture (WYOC) will attract thousands of visitors to the area and give local people the opportunity to enjoy a thrilling programme of events. From exhibitions and operatic performances to a Royal Wedding Street Party, there will be something for everyone. Check out the official WYOC website or call the Tourist Information Centre on 01978 292015 for the latest information.

The Wrexham and District National Eisteddfod will take place from 30th July to 6th August at Lower Berse Farm, off Ruthin Road, Wrexham, and is expected to attract up to 160,000 visitors. As ever, there will be an eclectic mix of music, dance, visual arts, performances and activities to suit all tastes, and the famous Pink Pavilion will be the focal point for cultural ceremonies and competitions. What’s more, LDS Tourism Services has been chosen to distribute and display the official Eisteddfod brochure, so you will be able to pick up a copy from one of our many Visitor Info Points (VIPs) from March onwards.

We’re also delighted to be working with Wrexham County Borough Council once again. As usual, we will deliver a selection of tourism publicationson to specific drops their behalf  (please contact WCBC to be included) and we will, of course, distribute The Real Wrexham 2011 to hundreds of outlets throughout the region.

Please don’t forget you can stay up to date with all that is happening to LDSTS and the tourism industry in general by following us on Facebook and Twitter.

Brand New Cadw Hotline

We have set up a bilingual hotline in order to deal more swiftly and efficiently with requests and queries concerning Cadw literature. This 24-hour telephone line will be answered by a real person between the hours of 9am and 4pm on weekdays - an answer-phone facility will be available at all other times. We are hoping that Tourist Information Centres and other operators within the tourism industry will make full use of this service. However, please feel free to ring the number if you have any questions or comments regarding this year’s Cadw brochures.

The new Cadw Hotline number is: 07964 584957

Cadw Sites Offer Gateway to Wales’s Heritage

According to the Welsh Assembly, new research has revealed that almost 75% of all visitors to Cadw sites not only learn something new about Wales’s heritage during their visit but are also encouraged to explore more of its historical wealth as a result.

On their website they say: "An interest in Welsh culture and history was cited as the main motivators for influencing a visit to a Cadw site by over 34% of respondents, with archery demonstrations, re-enactments and falconry displays proving particularly enticing during events. Events at Cadw sites are also more likely to attract local family visitors on day trips. Three-quarters of all respondents also felt current admission prices were about right."

They also found that over 57% of visitors to Cadw sites are female, with 42% of all visitors from Wales stating an ability to speak, understand or read Welsh. It was found that over three-quarters of all visitors came from outside Wales, with European visitors accounting for over half (53%) of those visiting from overseas. Over 55% of all visitors were family groups with this figure rising to 64% during specific event days.

These findings, along with numerous others, will be used by Cadw, the Welsh Assembly’s historic environment service, to guide future marketing and events strategies and better understand the needs of visitors whether according to their gender, age, language use or country of origin. Over 2,500 visitors were interviewed at selected Cadw sites as part of the project undertaken by Beaufort Research throughout August and September 2007.

We will, of course, be working with Cadw again in 2008 distributing their promotional print and representing them at various shows and events.