Speaking in a Senedd debate, Clwyd West MS Darren Millar said he is confident that the fortunes of seaside towns in North Wales can be revived and reversed, citing Colwyn Bay as an example of town that has turned a corner.
In the debate, ‘Restoring our seaside towns to their former glory: A necessary task or an impossible ask?’, brought forward by Vale of Clwyd Senedd Member Gareth Davies MS, Darren referred to the great work that has taken place in Colwyn Bay which has put the town back on the road to success and said this could be replicated in other resorts along the coast, such as Rhyl.
However, he warned that Welsh Government plans to introduce a Tourism Tax in Wales could scupper the chances of revival.
Speaking in the debate, he said:
“I thank Gareth Davies for introducing this debate. He's taken us already on an excursion to Rhyl, and we've been also on an excursion to Aberconwy and the wonderful resorts there. But I want to take you to visit places in my own constituency: Colwyn Bay, Rhos-on-Sea, Towyn and Kinmel Bay - wonderful resorts, many of them competitors to Rhyl and Prestatyn down the road.
“But all of these resorts have their fortunes closely aligned with the tourism industry, and price-sensitive tourists will be choosing to go elsewhere, frankly, if there's a price differential between the beautiful places on the North Wales coast that people can visit versus elsewhere. So, we must do what we can to overturn this dreadful proposal for a tourism tax here in Wales.
“I think the fortunes of our seaside towns can be revived and reversed. Colwyn Bay has turned a corner. It has seen some significant investment from the Welsh Government in terms of its coastal defences, which has improved the sea front a great deal and created a new beach. But, on top of that, it has reinvented itself in recent years and enjoyed a renaissance as the events and sporting capital of North Wales. It is because of this niche that it has been a success.
“All of the tourism towns, the seaside resorts, that we have spoken, can only really turn their fortunes around by looking for a niche that they can hang their hat on. So, I wish Rhyl, Prestatyn and all of those other seaside towns every success in following the success of Colwyn Bay.”
