Derbyn adroddiad diweddaru gan Gyfarwyddwr Materion Ffyniant a Datblygu mewn perthynas â Strategaeth Dwristiaeth y cyngor.
Cofnodion:
The Director of Prosperity & Development provided a verbal update on the status of the draft Tourism Strategy for Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and since the last report to committee in December 2020.
The Director advised that due to Covid-19 restrictions, the consultation process has been delayed but assured Members that at the earliest convenience the consultation would commence. The Director outlined some of the key projects which have been developed such as the RCT Tourism Hub, established for any group or organisation invested in the visitor economy in RCT to sign up to, free of charge, to receive updates on training, guidance, opportunities for funding, best practice approaches and will provide an opportunity for all involved to share views and communicate. A Strategic Steering Group is being set up with the key players from the tourism industry such as Zip World, Penderyn Whiskey Distillery, Edwards Coaches to use their expertise and knowledge and to get feedback from the visitors to RCT to be able to identify the successes and those areas requiring further development.
The Director advised that consultants are currently running a ‘bed stock’ survey amongst the 65 major accommodation providers, the results of which will be shared with the scrutiny committee in the future. There has been an increase in the numbers of planning applications for a range of accommodation developments such as glamping which demonstrates the buy in to the tourism strategy. Further to other queries the Director confirmed that further information around the detail of the accommodation would be provided to committee at a future date.
The Director of Prosperity & Development was pleased to announce that Zip World Tower is ready to open as soon as Welsh Government announce that it is safe to do so. He also referred to Dare Valley Country Park where work on the Gravity Family Bike Park is nearing completion and the new look Caféis completed. In conclusion, committee was advised that the marketing of RCT as a destination and when the time is appropriate a whole raft of marketing material will be ready to publish and progress.
Members were provided with the opportunity to ask questions of the Director in relation to the issues raised.
The co-opted member asked what measures RCT has in place to track the queries on social media regarding accommodation around the Zip World attraction and direct them appropriately. He also raised a query regarding the location of the electric charging points across RCT to encourage visitors to the area.
The Director advised that electric charging points across RCT is a subject of a separate report outlining a strategy for delivering the electric charging points for both visitors and residents in RCT. With regards to the promotion of accommodation across the county borough, the Strategic Manager, Prosperity & Development explained that work is ongoing to contact all 65 of the key accommodation providers and plans are in place to set up an accommodation sector working group within RCT to drive forward future provision.
Following a query as to whether there are appropriate sites available in the area to attract the large hotel chains and private hospitality businesses, the Director confirmed that the council is exploring the opportunity and feasibility for a future hotel development on the former Bingo Hall site in Pontypridd, and that Officers are currently engaging the commercial sector in relation to this aspiration. With regards to existing attractions, such as Ynysangharad War Memorial Park, it was reported that with Heritage Lottery Funding and Valleys Regional Park Funding, work to upgrade the park has been ongoing to improve the accessibility of toilets, improve the bandstand area, progress the community facilities and repair the Marks and Spencer’s Bridge, soon to be completed. The Director acknowledged the volume of work that the Council’s Planning and Development Department is receiving through applications and developments which is a positive and encouraging sign for the local economy. He assured committee that measures are in place to manage the volume of applications.
Following the discussions, it was RESOLVED to note the verbal update as delivered by the Director of Prosperity & Development and Strategic Manager, Prosperity & Development and that a future progress report would be delivered to committee at a future date.