In November 2021, Cyngor Gwynedd and Eryri’s National Park Authority established a pioneering partnership to safeguard and protect Gwynedd and Eryri’s sustainable future.
The collaboration will result in the creation of a Sustainable Visitor Economy Plan for Gwynedd and Eryri, further ensuring the preservation and protection of the area’s sustainable future.
What is the Gwynedd and Eryri Sustainable Visitor Economy Plan?
The Gwynedd and Eryri Sustainable Visitor Economy Plan 2035 is a groundbreaking new strategy that introduces a totally different approach to measuring the impact of tourism in Gwynedd and Eryri. Through open and honest discussions with those who live and work here, the Plan establishes a new set of principles which aim to redress the balance in the area, and puts communities at the heart of those who benefit from the visitor economy.
The plan will recognise the importance of Gwynedd and Eryri’s visitor economy while also ensuring the protection and safeguarding of the qualities that makes the area unique.
Who is working together to develop the plan?
Cyngor Gwynedd and Eryri’s National Park Authority is establishing a new Partnership with those representing the tourism sector; the business sector; community leaders; the environment sector; public sector; education and language. This is setting a new standard for future partnerships and will be a collaborative way of forming action plans and dealing with the challenges and opportunities the visitor economy presents.
The partnership will play a crucial role in developing and agreeing on a plan that establishes “a visitor economy for the benefit and well-being of the people, environment, language, and culture of Gwynedd and Eryri”.
In November 2021, Cyngor Gwynedd and the National Park Authority signed a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ that sets out how they will collaborate both together and with other partners to develop action plans and measurements, share good practice and agree on a Sustainable Visitor Economy Plan.
The principles and objectives of the sustainable visitor economy
Cyngor Gwynedd and Eryri’s National Park Authority have agreed on a set of principles and objectives that will form the area’s sustainable visitor economy. These principles have been developed after discussions with elected members, communities and organisations within the visitor industry.
- A visitor economy in the ownership of our communities with an emphasis on pride in one’s area
- A visitor economy that is world-leading in Heritage, Language, Culture and the Outdoors
- A visitor economy that respects our natural and built environment and considers the implications of visitor economy developments on our environment today and in the future
- A visitor economy that is a world-lead leader in sustainable and low carbon developments and infrastructure and in responding to the climate change crisis
- A visitor economy that ensures that infrastructure and resources contribute towards the well-being of the community all year round
- A visitor economy that thrives for the well-being of Gwynedd and Eryri residents and businesses and that offers quality employment opportunities for local people all year round
- A visitor economy that promotes local ownership and supports local supply chains and produce
What does the plan aim to achieve?
The plan aims to establish a sustainable visitor economy in Gwynedd and Eryri. This would mean that factors such as the wellbeing of Gwynedd and Eryri’s people, the health of the area’s natural environment and the strength of Welsh language and culture are taken into consideration alongside the finanical factors of the visitor industry. A sustainable visitor ecomony would benefit the people, environment and culture of Gwynedd and Eryri.
This is a vision that is based on international and local ideas of what a sustainable visitor economy can look like.
For further information on the plan, download our documentation.
Further information
For further information on the Gwynedd and Eryri Sustainable Visitor Economy Plan 2035, contact the National Park Authority’s Partnerships Manager.
Angela Jones
Head of Partnerships, Eryri’s National Park Authority
angela.jones@eryri.llyw.cymru