Recommendations
Tourism
17. We
recommend that VisitBritain and Visit Wales work together to develop
a strategy, by February 2015, for promoting Wales as a first choice
destination for international visitors to the UK. A key aspect
of this should be the use of a distinctive brand used consistently
in communications to help raise awareness of Wales internationally.
(Paragraph 26)
18. We recommend that
VisitBritain sets clear, measurable targets for encouraging international
tourists to visit different regions of the UK. (Paragraph 32)
19. We recommend that
the UK Government make improvements to its GREAT campaign to better
reflect Wales as a distinct location, and report to us on progress
made by February 2015. (Paragraph 43)
20. Wales can be reached
from London within a few hours yet, unlike Scotland, is often
not included in ready-made UK holiday packages offered by tour
operators. In developing a joint strategy with Visit Wales to
promote Wales as a first choice destination, we recommend that
VisitBritain prioritises efforts to encourage tour operators to
include Wales in ready-formed UK holiday packages. We expect VisitBritain
to report progress to us by February 2015. (Paragraph 45)
21. We recommend that
VisitBritain improves its website to better market Wales overseas.
VisitBritain should report back to us on progress made by February
2015. (Paragraph 46)
22. We recommend that
VisitBritain reports on the impact of the Memorandum of Understanding
with Visit Wales by February 2015. (Paragraph 53)
23. We recommend the
UK Government review its policy on the VAT rate for the tourism
industry, with the ultimate aim of reducing the current 20% rate.
(Paragraph 58)
Inward investment and trade
24. We
recommend that UKTI reports to us by February 2015 on progress
made to improve its profile amongst Welsh businesses and its engagement
with them. (Paragraph 73)
25. Nine of the ten
poorest regions in Northern Europe are in the UK, including West
Wales and the Valleys. The UK also houses the richest—Inner
London. The Committee believes that UKTI has a crucial role in
helping address geographical wealth inequalities and notes the
efforts of German Trade and Investment to reduce disparities within
the German state. UKTI should be mandated by the UK Government
to perform a similar function. (Paragraph 74)
26. Modern broadband
alongside the prospect of rail electrification means that Wales
can increasingly offer a lower cost, lower congestion and better
quality of life offer to inward investors than London and the
South East. We reiterate our previous calls for the establishment
of a dedicated trade promotion agency, either sitting within the
Welsh Government or as a private sector vehicle working in collaboration
with the Welsh Government to drive inward investment projects
into Wales. (Paragraph 83)
27. We recommend that
UKTI ensures a regional spread of businesses are included on overseas
trade delegations and that Welsh companies are given opportunity
to participate. (Paragraph 91)
28. We recommend that
the Wales Office and Welsh Government, as a matter of routine,
inform all Welsh Members of Parliament and Assembly Members about
upcoming trade delegations so that they in turn can inform relevant
businesses in their constituency. We recommend that such a system
be in place by the beginning of 2015. (Paragraph 92)
29. We recommend that
the Wales Office and Welsh Government seek greater opportunities
for joint overseas trade delegations, at both the ministerial
and official level, where interests align and to promote Wales
internationally as a place to do business. (Paragraph 94)
Culture and language
30. The
British Council does some good work to promote Wales, most notably
with the excellent Welsh Language Project in Patagonia, Argentina.
However, there are other parts of the world, including the USA,
with a notable Welsh diaspora or where there is an interest in
the Welsh language. We recommend that the British Council investigate
other opportunities where Welsh culture and language can be promoted
to overseas markets. (Paragraph 111)
31. We recommend that
the British Council's Board of Trustees includes a permanent Welsh
representative, to ensure that Welsh interests are represented
at the highest level of the British Council. (Paragraph 113)
32. We recommend that
the UK Embassy in Argentina should have a specific strategic goal
to help promote the Welsh language in Patagonia and foster relations
between the region and Wales. (Paragraph 114)
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