May 18

May 18 

Spare a thought for what must be the most frustrated group of workers in Britain today - tourist officers. After years of boasting of the attractions of their counties, towns and resorts, enticing people to visit, they are now urging them to stay away. How that must hurt. It makes me sad even to think about it
 I appreciate their feelings and know the importance of the job to Britain's economy. Until the pandemic brought it to a standstill the 100,000 in the  industry in Wales - one tenth of the work force - earned the country £8million a day, £3billion a year. In the first three months last year the Wales tourism trade wa the fastest growing in the UK.
For over ten years, helping to sell Wales and the UK to the world was one of my multi-task jobs as Cardiff city and county public relations officer. I was part of  a national/international team, especially strong in Europe, with EUTO - the European Union of Tourist Officers. Wales was represented by Wales Tourist Board, local government, airlines, airports - Cardiff and Schipol, Amsterdam, Wales air hub to the world. Eery year we visited tourism trade shows and British weeks in Germany, the Netherland ,and North America. The conference trade is the most lucrative form of tourism, and we tapped into it with BTO - the British Assocuation of Conference Towns. representing eighty of the Uk's majot towns, includng Cardoiff. As chairman for two years I was in the British team to Phoenix and Boston, USA, cities that spent millions of pounds attacting over 6,000 delegate. from around the world.
 Our sales pitch at home and around the world was backed by brochures by the million, films and television advertisements
All very exciting, and hugely valuable. That is why today tourist officecrs can't wait to get back to welcoming, not turning away such valuable customers.