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Could the welcome in Wales be warmer?
Wales is "slightly old-fashioned" and the Welsh are "not friendly" in the minds of some potential visitors to the country, research for tourism officials has found.
Commissioned by the Arts Council and Visit Wales, comments to researchers included that Wales was "almost like Birmingham's playground" and Cardiff was "just a city..like any other" and at worst "a bit rough".
Visit Wales said there were still misconceptions, while just under half who took part in focus groups had not visited Wales and may have been responding to stereotypes.
Do you think Wales is a bit old fashioned as a place to visit? Do misconceptions still exist or could more be done to make the welcome warmer?
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Published:
Monday, 9 November, 2009, 08:43 GMT
08:43 UK
All comments as they come in
Added:
Monday, 9 November, 2009, 17:11 GMT
17:11 UK
As a native Welsh speaker who has lived in England for forty years and still. proudly speaks Welsh my blood pressure rises when I'm told that visitors find people speaking Welsh in some way offensive or alienating. Try going to France and complaining about the French speaking French.Why is it the English can't accept that we are different and proud of it. I have also been told that bilingual signs are a deliberate attempt to confuse visitors.
Angela Johnson, Meopham
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Added:
Monday, 9 November, 2009, 17:08 GMT
17:08 UK
Evey country has touristy areas, and unpleasant locals not fond of tourists. But in Wales, I have occasionaly found, the unpleasant locals not fond of tourists actually run the touristy places! Wierd.
Cosmo Entley
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Added:
Monday, 9 November, 2009, 17:00 GMT
17:00 UK
Wales is unique - not a part of England - nor do we ever wish to be. Old fashioned? Maybe. We have our own language, history and culture. The English's response to Wales and our lovely language is typical of the way they behave in any other country - they expect everyone to change their language and everyday traditions and habits to suit them. We offer a very warm heartfelt welcome (Croeso) to everyone - whoever they are - but we are what we are - we're not going to change. When in Rome.......
Able, Carmarthen, South West Wales
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Added:
Monday, 9 November, 2009, 16:54 GMT
16:54 UK
In my experience, many if not most of the "tourism" businesses appear to be owned/staffed by English people - that's certainly the case in north Wales. (Just listen to the accents!). So are the "Welsh" entirely to blame for the negative perception? It's also noticeable the most of the negative comments here are from English people rather than other nationalities who are, mainly, positive about Wales.
John
John Gruffydd, Mold, United Kingdom
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Added:
Monday, 9 November, 2009, 16:47 GMT
16:47 UK
I can remember my parents (Scottish) telling us that, on holiday in north Wales, when they went into a shop or cafe in a small town or village, the staff would start talking Welsh & would ignore my parents.
Purely anecdotal & a long time ago. But, I reckon that this type of behaviour can happen - even today - more in small rural communities than in cities or bigger tourist resorts. And, lest we get smug, it will happen in many other parts of the UK too.
All the way from, Barcelona, Spain
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Added:
Monday, 9 November, 2009, 16:41 GMT
16:41 UK
I love Wales. I was at school there for 2 years as an adolescent, and I've travelled there since. Wales is beautiful and its people are very friendly. (Where did that complaint come from?) One lad in a pub spent half an hour coaching me on how to pronounce Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllant ysiliogogogoch. And best of all, Wales gave life and character to Torchwood! Those Welsh vowels!
Kay Erdwinn, Portland, Maine
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Added:
Monday, 9 November, 2009, 16:39 GMT
16:39 UK
My own experience of many countries, including Wales, is that the overwhelming majority are friendly & welcoming to those respecting their hosts & their values.
The worst I've encountered are from my own county, in the Yorkshire Dales where my American daughter-in-law had been yearning to visit. Not only were some (far too many) unfriendly, they were downright rude to a charming & extremely friendly young lady and her family.
[lorderkules], Leeds
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Added:
Monday, 9 November, 2009, 16:30 GMT
16:30 UK
Paul Robeson was given a hero's welcome.That says a great deal about the decent working class Welsh.
[pontiac1], Little Neck, United States
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Added:
Monday, 9 November, 2009, 16:11 GMT
16:11 UK
I moved from England to the South Wales Valleys in 2004. I have settled for life and my main reason was the people - amazingly friendly, generous and accommodating. I have made 'true' friends - friends that are there for me no matter what. I live at the top of the Rhondda valley, boasting lovely scenery on my doorstep. What else could anyone ask for?
Paul Stephens, Treherbert
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Added:
Monday, 9 November, 2009, 15:50 GMT
15:50 UK
The article is ill-judged, ill-informed, stereotypical and way off the mark. As an Englishman born and bred, my lovely Welsh wife and in-laws are some of the most delightful people I have ever met. When I was introduced to my wife's mum & dad for the first time, they couldn't have made me more welcome and have carried on being kind, generous and supportive ever since - so too the rest of her family & friends. It is shameful to suggest that Welsh hospitality is any less than a lesson to us all.
Steve, Kent
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Added:
Monday, 9 November, 2009, 15:36 GMT
15:36 UK
Why would I come to Wales, in particular the capital Cardiff?
Hotels that are way overpriced, with poor service; restaurants and taxis the same. Everything is expensive and for what? The city is grubby and dreary. Needs a good, ' wash and brush up.'
Together with a change of attitude, tourists haven't arrived to be fleeced. Sorry! but there are better places to go; outside of the UK.
Al. expat, Canada.
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Added:
Monday, 9 November, 2009, 15:29 GMT
15:29 UK
Don't diss the 'Diff! Or any other part of Wales for that matter. I am English and came to Wales in 1994, first to study at Lampeter & a couple of years after graduation I moved to Cardiff for work. Wales is the most wonderful country, and her people are very friendly and welcoming. You may receive an unfriendly or friendly response anywhere you go in Britain or the world, depending on the individual to whom you are speaking and your attitude.
Cymru am Byth!!
Rosie Bryant, Cardiff
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Added:
Monday, 9 November, 2009, 15:26 GMT
15:26 UK
I've been on all the welsh railways - where is this unhelpfulness? I don't think I've ever heard people change to talking welsh when I walk into a shop or pub - if you're rude to them - and sadly some tourists are like that - anywhere - I would expect you might now find them fawning on you. But that's your fault, surely?
[michellegrand], Alton, United Kingdom
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Added:
Monday, 9 November, 2009, 15:26 GMT
15:26 UK
As an older Scot who in my younger days spent many an enjoyable family holiday travelling around Wales I would recommend it as a must visit for any family.
[Pragmale], BISHOPBRIGGS, United Kingdom
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Added:
Monday, 9 November, 2009, 15:18 GMT
15:18 UK
I'm delighted to read more positive rather than negative messages in this topic.And as for the lady with the dog banned from our beaches, dogs are banned on beaches over the summer period over most of the UK.I'm a dog owner, but I agree with it being done.Kids play in the sand after all.And you get rude shopkeepers everywhere, but in rural areas they get sick of tourists wanting free info that don't buy anything.If you holiday in France, you try to learn the language, why should Wales differ?
Harry Harry, United Kingdom
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DEBATE STATUS
Total comments: 174
Published comments: 116
Rejected comments: 0
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