Rural Tourism Grant Success

A £1.59 million capital grant scheme for small tourism businesses in rural Carmarthenshire is well underway and has been very successful in helping small ventures in improving tourism facilities and visitor destinations.

Strengthening the Tourism Appeal of Rural Carmarthenshire (STARC) was funded through the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013 which is funded by the Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

The scheme, delivered by Carmarthenshire County Council’s Physical Regeneration division, aimed to strengthen Carmarthenshire’s position as a year round premier tourist destination by helping businesses to develop and promote themselves. It encouraged the promotion of a sense of place within the tourism community, improving the visitor experience, and safeguarded and created 48 jobs.

STARC comprised of two grants: one to improve the quality of the tourism product in rural Carmarthenshire by financially supporting the improvement or upgrade of accommodation and tourism facilities, the second encouraged the ‘greening’ of tourism operations in order to build a base of accredited green tourism businesses.

Projects supported ranged from a new visitor centre at Llwyfan Cerrig Station, Gwili Railway to a barbecue area at Glangwili Mansion and wedding tipis for Welsh Green Weddings.

A third element to the scheme, Distinctive Rural Hubs, is funding five large projects in the county that will develop or create tourism attractions and facilities. The first of these to complete is the community-owned Level Crossing in Llandovery. The previously unoccupied public house the North Western is now being leased by the Level Crossing community interest company and has been renovated to become a 50 bed bunkhouse offering hostel style accommodation. The building will also provide a training venue, hosting catering and hospitality courses, linking in with local colleges.

Executive Board Member for Regeneration and Leisure, Councillor Meryl Gravell, said: “Tourism is an important part of Carmarthenshire’s economy and I’m delighted that the scheme to upgrade tourist facilities and to make them ‘greener’ is proving to be such a success. Carmarthenshire is becoming a quality ‘green’ destination thanks to the environmentally-friendly tourism projects we have supported.

“The Distinctive Rural Hubs element of the project is helping to create significant tourism attractions which will encourage more people to visit the county.”

For details of other RDP Sir Gâr grant and support schemes, please call 01267 242 366 or visit www.wwec.org.uk