Welsh tourism policy under fire

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The Welsh Assembly Government is under fire over its tourism policy in a heavily-critical review.

The draft report from the Wales Tourism Alliance, obtained by BBC Wales, recommends creating a new tourism body.

It says there is a "disconnection" between tourism operators and Visit Wales, the government body set up in 2006 to market attractions.

The tourism minister's spokesman said he wanted a far wider industry involvement in developing policy.

The report also says tourism in Wales appears to be underfunded compared with Scotland and Ireland.

The powers of the former Wales Tourist Board were taken over by the assembly government in April 2006.The report, commissioned by the assembly government, has been seen by BBC Wales' Dragon's Eye programme.

They got rid of the Wales Tourist Board on the basis that it would bring government closer to businesses and tourists... it has clearly failed in that respect Alun Cairns AM, Conservative

It says Visit Wales has "irrevocably changed the nature of the support it can provide for the industry".

"This has created a disconnect between the industry and Visit Wales," it says.

"We strongly recommend creating a new tourism public/private sector organisation that re-addresses this balance and will enable the industry to play a full role in developing tourism in the future."

About 170 tourist operators were asked their views, and an overwhelming number were critical saying that the government did not really appreciate tourism's economic importance.

The Wales Tourism Alliance - which represents tourism operators - was commissioned to undertake a review of the industry.

There was concern that Visit Wales was less accessible than the old Wales Tourist Board.

Conservative finance spokesman in Wales Alun Cairns said the report was damning and undermined changes in organising tourism policy recently.

"They got rid of the Wales Tourist Board on the basis that it would bring government closer to businesses and tourists," he said.

"It has clearly failed in that respect."

A Welsh Assembly Government spokesman said a tourism summit had been arranged for 19 November and the heritage minister Alun Ffred Jones has noted the call for greater industry partnership with government.

"He would like to have far wider industry involvement in the development of tourism policy and strategy," said the spokesman.

Dragon's Eye is on BBC2 Wales at 2100 and on BBC One Wales at 2235 GMT.