Deckchair, anyone?

Visitor numbers to Wales fell by 1.2m between 2006 and 2008, apparently, and the news that accommodation providers are having to work harder to attract visitors really doesn't come as a major surprise.

If you want to see how Llandudno's hotels fare, then visit Trip Advisor http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/. Here, folk rate their last visit to the hotel of choice, and it's here you can read the rants and raves. What you read may surprise you. For instance, the number 1 hotel in the area is a tiny, boutique hotel called Can Y Bae, run by David and Michael. Situated on the Prom, it's the proprietors that make the difference and who work their magic to have the tourists returning, like well trained clockwork soldiers, year after year.   

 In the last blog, we wrote that more folk are actually holidaying in North Wales than for some time, but behind that observation lie some interesting facts.

Florida is still the major tourist destination for folk in the UK, followed closely by Spain, Portugal, the Canaries and Greece. But there are different reasons for choosing each location. Folk choose Florida for the theme parks primarily, and the other destinations for sun and sea. Here in North Wales we can't compete on either, so we need to think a little more creatively.

For a start, one has to wonder why so many hotels in the UK charge per person and not per room. Then one has to wonder why the charges are so high.  Some places, like those owned by the coach companies, work mighty hard to fill their hotels with folk all year round;  Turkey and Tinsel weekends start early, cost comparatively little and seem a great success.  In effect, a market is being created outside of the normal period, a slot largely dictated by the school terms.

By and large, folk coming on holiday want three things: a clean, en-suite room, really good food and something to do and see. Many hotels are providing the first two of these, but it's still the third aspect which, it seems, still eludes some.  The tourist potential of the two major towns - Llandudno and Colwyn Bay - is still significant, and Rhos proves just what a decent beach and the sight of bobbing yachts can do.  But what Llandudno and Colwyn Bay could do is to capitalise on their Victorian roots.  Conwy has a built-in Castle, which attracts thousands, but making a feature out of the area's heritage could be the real winner. Time for some bold thinking, perhaps?