Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones and Heritage Minister Alun Fred Jones visited the Maes Yr Haf restaurant and rooms in Gower earlier today (Wednesday 29 April) to formally launch the Welsh Assembly Government’s Food Tourism Action Plan.
The plan seeks to develop links between food and tourism to help Wales capitalise on the economic benefits of providing visitors with a unique, high quality and distinctive food experience. It brings together the agriculture, tourism and food production, processing and service sectors, and identifies future priorities for developing Wales’s food offer.
Speaking at the launch event, the Rural Affairs Minister said;
“Our Food Tourism Action Plan is all about improving perceptions of Wales as a destination where high quality and distinctive food is widely available in our cafes, restaurants, pubs, hotels and guesthouses. We want to ensure that our visitors are provided with an exceptional food experience based on locally sourced and distinctive food. In 2008 the first category for Food Tourism Destination was included in Wales The True Taste Food & Drink Awards. The award aims to raise awareness of the excellence of Food Tourism outlets throughout Wales and we plan to continue this category in future years.
“There is clearly a demand for gastronomic experiences and outlets which promote and market high quality Welsh food and drink. The actions contained in the Plan are designed to help us meet this demand. “
The Heritage Minister spoke about the importance of food in creating a unique visitor experience: “The importance of food to the tourism industry has increased significantly within the last ten years and there’s a growing recognition that food can create a unique sense of place. Food products and dishes are also an expression of local cultures, and culinary tourism and agri-tourism are vital elements of a destination’s cultural tourism offer. Food tourism fully integrates both concepts in order to maximise the economic impact of various activities linking food to tourism.”
The event was opened by Simon Wright, Welsh restaurateur, food broadcaster and consultant to TV chef, Gordon Ramsay, who along with representatives from the tourism, agriculture and food industries, had worked with the Welsh Assembly Government to develop the plan.
Speaking at the event, Simon said;
“ We know that the availability of high quality, local food is a key driver for tourists looking for somewhere to visit. This plan will help to ensure that we provide visitors to Wales with the high quality food experience they are looking for so that they enjoy their time here and come back time and time again . That way we really can make the most of the economic opportunities available to us. ”
Article published on: 29th April 2009