More than 1.77 million people visited Caerphilly County Borough during 2015, new figures from the council have revealed.
The number, a 4% rise on the previous year, includes events such as the annual Big Cheese Festival, Caerphilly Food Festival and the various Christmas events held in town centres.
Statistics show the total economic impact of tourism to the county borough is up a massive 4.2% in 2015 compared to 2014. The number of staying visitors to the county borough also increased by 3.1% during 2015, compared to the year before.
Cllr Ken James, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Sustainable Development, said: “This increase in the economic impact of tourism in our county borough, together with a substantial increase in visitor numbers is testament to the hard work of so many people.
“We have some truly fascinating attractions, not to mention some extremely popular events which attract tens of thousands of people every year. Tourism is vital to our economy, so it’s very pleasing indeed to see such a marked increase.”
Visitors to both the Big Cheese and the Caerphilly towns Food and Festive fares were significantly DOWN last year, on the previous year.
Were on earth do they get these figures from? I think they are a creation to justify the excistance of an inflated “heavy Spending Department” of the council whilst cutting back on other citizen focused services paid for by the ratepayers of the Borough.
This is the same department managed by the same Cabinet Member who allowed and overmanaged the seriously flawed LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN getting approved by the Council.
I dont believe a word of this report of self serving nepatistic back slapping nonsence.
I don’t know where they get these figures from, but believe them to be flawed. There is no real effort at all to make Caerffili attractive to tourists. For a century the council, and its predecessors, have allowed the, once attractive, town to be demolished. The latest loss includes one of the oldest buildings left, the 1866 National School.
No tourst would find any of the town centre pubs remoteley attractive and there is little choice when eating out in the evening. The countryside in which the town once nestled has been eroded, and continues to be lost, as developers build massive housing estates.
I have had the opportunity to talk with many toursts whilst at the ‘Grassroots Out’ stand in the town over several weeks. These have included people from Germany, Austria, California and Australia. None of them were interested in staying longer than it took them to visit the castle. Tourism could be important economically but to say it is at the moment is mistaken.
And now it’s only 2 hour parking in castle court,any longer you get £85 fine…..wail till that goes into travel forums and nobody will visitl