Select Committee on Welsh Affairs Minutes of Evidence


Letter from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

  I am writing to follow up my evidence to the Committee on 6 February.

  I was asked by Mrs Williams (Q303) what could be done to open up new markets for Wales. As part of my response, I said incorrectly that the Wales Tourist Board (WTB) was represented in the USA, Ireland, the Netherlands and France.

  Whereas those countries, with Germany, are the most important markets for Wales and it is those in which the WTB is pro-active in marketing Wales, the WTB only maintains a presence on territory in the USA, operating out of BTA's New York office.

  I was asked by Mr Edwards (Q305 & 307) and Mr Llwyd about the role of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in the Welsh and Scottish bids for the Ryder Cup. I said that I would look at my response to Mr Edwards' question and clarify the matter.

  I have now had a chance to check this with my colleagues and wish to inform the Committee that this Department has taken no part in any of the three bids from UK destinations. However, if the UK destination were to be awarded the Ryder Cup event, the Government would lend appropriate promotional and diplomatic support whatever the location.

Alistair Howie
Head of International Tourism Branch

14 February 2001


 
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