With increasing numbers of people wanting to cruise Wales along with other UK ports, there is a strong possibility that Wales will before long emulate major European cruise ports as a destination for the big leisure cruise market. This is how the Welsh Affairs Select Committee of legislators in the House of Commons, the British Parliament, concluded their report. It points to strong growth in the UK cruise market over the last ten years or so, and urges the need to secure some growth in cruise ship visits to bolster the economies of Welsh port communities.
Any keen cruise travellers should note that before they make advanced bookings to cruise Wales there is currently a slight difficulty with providing adequate facilities for berthing and Welsh ports infrastructure to service the fast growing fleet of big ships cruising European waters needs to be upgraded. Meanwhile there is a campaign called the "Celtic Wave" led by Anglesey, which has a budget of around $2m and covers ports in Ireland and Wales, with the aim of attracting more cruise visitors to these ports and their wider regional economies.
The Welsh Assembly Government in Cardiff has called on the UK government to support extra infrastructure investment to bring these ports, including Holyhead, Anglesey, Milford Haven and Swansea, up to the standards demanded by the cruise liner companies. According to the findings of ther House of Commons Welsh Affairs Committee, there is significant potential to boost local port economies and their regional hinterlands by maximising opportunities for people to cruise Wales as part of the UK cruising experience.
Over the longer term the prospects of Welsh ports catching up with Baltic ports is encouraging, an area where a popular cruise market already thrives. From Holyhead in the North West of Wales to Newport via Swansea and Milford Haven, ports in Wales can act as catalysts for economic regeneration when they attract visitors to cruise Wales. In 2009 the first cruise ship visited Newport, close to Celtic Manor which will host the Ryder Cup in 2010. The cruise visitors arriving in Newport had the opportunity to visit Cardiff sites such as the Millennium Centre and the castle.
Similarly, there are many attractions for cruise visitors when their ship arrives at Holyhead, Anglesey, including World Heritage Castles of Wales at Beaumaris and Caernarfon, South Stack Lighthouse and Llynnon Mill, along with the excellent island coastal path, as well as the Oriel Art Gallery and Seawatch centre at Moelfre.
To boost the berthing facilities for the anticipated increase in cruise ship arrivals at Holyhead, the Welsh Assembly Government is providing financial support to strengthen the jetty used by Anglesey Aluminium Metals (AAM), which provides excellent sheltered anchorage and a convenient disembarkation point for cruise line passengers. When completed this upgrade will see the Holyhead outer harbour jetty strong enough to allow mega liners such as the 2,000 passenger carrying, 285 metre Westerdam to berth at Holyhead Port.
The future outlook looks very promising for potential UK cruise visitors planning to cruise Wales as part of their overall UK travel plans, and certainly Holyhead port will be ready to receive them as warmly as ever, as they embark upon their visits to the various sites of interest on and off the island. - 29868
Any keen cruise travellers should note that before they make advanced bookings to cruise Wales there is currently a slight difficulty with providing adequate facilities for berthing and Welsh ports infrastructure to service the fast growing fleet of big ships cruising European waters needs to be upgraded. Meanwhile there is a campaign called the "Celtic Wave" led by Anglesey, which has a budget of around $2m and covers ports in Ireland and Wales, with the aim of attracting more cruise visitors to these ports and their wider regional economies.
The Welsh Assembly Government in Cardiff has called on the UK government to support extra infrastructure investment to bring these ports, including Holyhead, Anglesey, Milford Haven and Swansea, up to the standards demanded by the cruise liner companies. According to the findings of ther House of Commons Welsh Affairs Committee, there is significant potential to boost local port economies and their regional hinterlands by maximising opportunities for people to cruise Wales as part of the UK cruising experience.
Over the longer term the prospects of Welsh ports catching up with Baltic ports is encouraging, an area where a popular cruise market already thrives. From Holyhead in the North West of Wales to Newport via Swansea and Milford Haven, ports in Wales can act as catalysts for economic regeneration when they attract visitors to cruise Wales. In 2009 the first cruise ship visited Newport, close to Celtic Manor which will host the Ryder Cup in 2010. The cruise visitors arriving in Newport had the opportunity to visit Cardiff sites such as the Millennium Centre and the castle.
Similarly, there are many attractions for cruise visitors when their ship arrives at Holyhead, Anglesey, including World Heritage Castles of Wales at Beaumaris and Caernarfon, South Stack Lighthouse and Llynnon Mill, along with the excellent island coastal path, as well as the Oriel Art Gallery and Seawatch centre at Moelfre.
To boost the berthing facilities for the anticipated increase in cruise ship arrivals at Holyhead, the Welsh Assembly Government is providing financial support to strengthen the jetty used by Anglesey Aluminium Metals (AAM), which provides excellent sheltered anchorage and a convenient disembarkation point for cruise line passengers. When completed this upgrade will see the Holyhead outer harbour jetty strong enough to allow mega liners such as the 2,000 passenger carrying, 285 metre Westerdam to berth at Holyhead Port.
The future outlook looks very promising for potential UK cruise visitors planning to cruise Wales as part of their overall UK travel plans, and certainly Holyhead port will be ready to receive them as warmly as ever, as they embark upon their visits to the various sites of interest on and off the island. - 29868
About the Author:
The author, David Phillips, comes from the magical island of Anglesey off North Wales, UK and owns an informative website covering local news and information. Find out more about planning to cruise Wales here to help make your vacation more enjoyable.
