After such a challenging year for everyone, I would firstly like to thank all our members for your support, and our small team at MWT who have worked tirelessly to support our members during these difficult 10 months.
Our priority as always is to be on hand to help our members with advice and timely information and to work with our partners to support our local communities and the wider tourism economy.
This year it is more vital than ever and our voice has been heard and listened to at the highest level of Government. Relationships and experience that MWT has built over many years has been so important in this most difficult if times.
As the pandemic has unfolded, our approach has been to communicate concerns and needs of our sector through the appropriate channels to gain maximum effect.
I understand how difficult this year has been for our businesses, and how frustrating it has been when the Welsh Government has taken decisions that have impacted our sector. We are very aware that what is said in anger can lead to unintended consequences for Wales and our industry.
We have adopted as balanced approach in our dealings with UK and WG officials through this difficult period, and at all times in our approach when dealing with the media avoiding negative headlines that could be misinterpreted by the UK media.
I have many people to thank on behalf of our MWT members for their help and support over these difficult times. Firstly, will have seen our Chairman, Rowland Rees-Evans, and other members on numerous TV interviews presenting the viewpoint from our sector.
A huge thank you also to Andrew Campbell and Adrian Greason-Walker from the WTA, and Steve Hughson, Mid Wales Tourism Forum Chairman who have been working tirelessly for the sector, representing members on the WG & UK Tourism Task Force and often getting up sometimes at the crack of dawn to represent us on radio and TV interviews.
My thanks also to the Welsh Government / Visit Wales / Welsh Government Teams and specially to Helen Jones, Rob Holt and Lucy von Weber who still take our calls even when they know it could be a ‘heated discussion’ at the end of it, but who have always listened and done all that they can to ensure our concerns are heard.
And thank you to our PR officer Duncan Foulkes who has always been available at the end of the phone/email to support us all with our journalist visits, official MWT press releases, expert advice and assisting our members with their press releases.
To our Chairman Rowland Rees Evans, and to all our MWT directors who although running their own businesses have always been available when we’ve needed them and to our small team Zoe, Andrea, Claire, Davina & Julia who have kept everything ticking over.
Ultimately, we couldn’t do this without you, our members. Through such tough times your support allows us to continue our work to support the sector in Mid Wales.
As we approach the start of a New Year, we all expect some challenges ahead, but hopeful that with the introduction of a vaccine and the expected rise in Staycations, we will start to see a recovery grow through 2021.
I wish you all have a happy, healthy and safe Christmas and New Year and here’s to 2021!
#StaySafe
Nadolig Llawen 🎅
Val
