Coast & Countryside

Student holiday could help bank roll country park and county tourism

A university student three-day holiday break planned at Pembrey Country Park in June could wipe out last year’s £70,000 park losses at one visit. And the exciting economic opportunity for the county over the next five years could mean benefits of more than £3million to Carmarthenshire’s tourism industry.

More than 60 local businesses attended a 'meet the buyer' event at Parc y Scarlets last week. Business people were astonished to learn that the students and organisers spend for the June event, planned at Pembrey, will exceed £1million.

Last year the UK university summer holiday break for 18,000 students spawned on TV 'Dragon’s Den' won awards for being one of Britain best organised and run festivals.

There is opposition to the event in the community but thousands of young people and other supporters have signed an online petition in support of the event. The demand has been so great 500 tickets are being made available to local students.

Carmarthenshire’s County Council Licensing Committee will be meeting later this month to determine whether the event will be allowed. County executive board member for Regeneration and Leisure Services, Clive Scourfield, said: "The organisers demonstrated, at the 'meet the buyer' event, the significant economic benefits BBL could bring to the region in terms of direct spend and the future of tourism in the county. There are also significant arts, cultural, community and charity benefits with BBL already committing thousands to local charities."

Organser Ian Fawshaw said: "In 2009 we as a company spent £0.5million with local suppliers, more than 50 per cent of direct event budget. If we equal that in June at Pembrey we will spend more than £1million with local suppliers. We have met businesses in Pembrey, Burry Port and Llanelli to find ways these businesses can have a presence 'on site', including butchers, bakers and pottery candlestick makers. Local hotels, bed and breakfast outlets, taxi’s, takeaways and scores of others are already benefiting from the circa 1,000 people involved in the planning of the event. Local shops and services will benefit from ticket holders on their way to and from the event with the average spend of £140 per person expected to exceed £2.8m in 2010. Our experience shows significant short and long term impact on tourism related businesses. If ten per cent of ticket holders return just once, having been smitten by Carmarthenshire, it equals £3.2m to tourism related businesses over next five years. Long term promotion of Carmarthenshire as a holiday destination to a changing audience of young adults each year could have a transformational impact on tourism businesses in the county."

BBL is also promoting Welsh arts and culture, having committed £20,000 to a local arts stage at the event co-created with Coleg Sirgar and, depending on the success of this years event, could be making their annual summer vacation destination the Pembrey Peninsula.

For further press information please contact Carmarthenshire County Council leisure services press officer Ron Cant on 01267 224923 or 07811 101531.