£290,000 bid to boost tourism (From Western Telegraph)

£290,000 bid to boost tourism

A MASSIVE campaign to promote Pembrokeshire as an off-season tourist destination gets underway next week as the traditional holiday period draws to a close on a high note.

Eleven of the county's major tourism operators have pooled together individual grants awarded by the National Assembly for Wales and will spend the £290,000 'war chest' to win the hearts and purses of the off-season visitor.

They will meet on Tuesday ahead of an extensive media campaign, flagging up the joys of the quiet beaches and invigorating coastal and countryside walks available in Pembrokeshire in the autumn and winter.

Matthew Evans, of Activity Wales, Haverfordwest, one of the companies awarded the Welsh Assembly cash, says good weather is not crucial to Pembrokeshires unique image.

'Pembrokeshire has so many advantages off-season. Our job is to tell the world about them," he said.

'They will be paying less for their holiday off-season and should have more money to spend in restaurants and other businesses."

The launch comes at the tail end of a season of mixed fortunes when foot-and-mouth threatened Pembrokeshires biggest industry.

At Folly Farm, Begelly, daily targets have been exceeded in the last two weeks. 'The last fortnight has been tremendous," said managing director, Chris Ebsworth. 'Visitors are spending more money per head in the park which is an indication that they are enjoying themselves."

In the accommodation sector, Coastal Cottages of Pembrokeshire have had capacity bookings.

Numbers have also been up at the National Trusts properties in Pembrokeshire, including Colby Woodland Garden and the Tudor Merchants House, Tenby.

But money lost at the start of the season, when the Trust closed its holiday cottages and car parks to protect farmland from infection, can never be recouped.