Let the castles speak for Wales

LET the castles talk to boost Wales’s tourist industry.

That was the suggestion of Carmarthenshire executive board member for regeneration and leisure Cllr Meryl Gravell launching the Castles and Princes project at Newton House, Dinefwr Park, with Welsh Assembly Deputy Minister for Culture Sport and Tourism, Ken Skates.

Mrs Gravell invited everyone to make time this half term and into the future to visit Wales’s glorious castles and be inspired by their histories believing they among the country’s greatest attractions for visitors and tourists.

“If you talk to the castle walls they may even talk back,” said Mrs Gravell referring to the digital storyboards and other technical enhancements incorporated in the project across castles at Swansea, Laugharne, Pembroke, Carmarthen, Carreg Cennen and Dinefwr”

The project programme to refresh the great visitor attractions is part of Cadw’s £19-million Heritage Tourism Project which is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the Welsh Government’s Target Match Fund with more than £330,000 coming in to Carmarthenshire and the remainder assisting projects on Pembrokeshire and Swansea.

Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Ken Skates, AM said the colourful and intriguing history of the princes of Deheubarth and the Marcher lords was a period of alliances, allegiances and partnerships forged to serve a cause. And it was that spirit of partnership forged in the present day that they were celebrating at the launch.

Mr Skates said: “I am pleased to see that with this project local authorities, the third sector and private business can work so successfully together across political, organisational, ownership and geographic boundaries; facilitated by the Welsh Government through Cadw, to provide a coherent and compelling heritage narrative across south West Wales.

“According to research by Cardiff University’s Business School’s Welsh Economy Research Unit, the economic impacts attributable to tourists visiting sites which have benefitted from the HeritageTourism Project could equate to up to £19million annually, in turn supporting more than 1,000 full time jobs.

“We need to keep our heritage tourism relevant for today’s society. Reinvesting in facilities and sites, making our stories engaging and inspirational to a wide range of audiences through excellent interpretation will further enhance the visitor experience and satisfaction.

“This will not only ensure that our heritage sites remain accessible and enjoyable but will also encourage people to recommend places they have visited and also come back to visit time and again. Wales is the first country in Europe, perhaps in the world to develop a whole country approach to heritage interpretation to help us tell those stories with authenticity and panache.

“The Pan Wales Heritage Interpretation Plan and its supporting thematic plans including “The Princes of Deheubarth and Lords of the Southern March” have been developed with the visitor at the heart of their thinking.

“The Castles and Princes project has helped to raise awareness and understanding of this and other sites. I hope that it will result in people gaining a better appreciation of the history that surrounds us all. I hope this project will emphasise the importance of the various sites to our local communities and encourage greater pride in our local history.

“The benefits of a partnership approach; working together for a common goal; enhancing and making our historical environment more accessible cannot just be measured in the economic benefits and job opportunities but also in the way that it can inspire and encourage our future generations to celebrate our amazing heritage.

County executive board member for regeneration and leisure services Cllr Meryl Gravell said Castles were among the county’s most valuable tourism resources and four of the six being brought alive by the Castles and Princes project were in Carmarthenshire with one on Swansea and another in Pembroke.

She hoped as many as possible would get about and about at half term to witness the efforts made to “bring alive” the castles in the Castles and Princes project.

She said: “In Carmarthenshire we believe strongly that tourism and culture is tremendously important. In the last 10 years our small but enthusiastic tourism team have made tremendous progress selling our county. Every week national and international magazines carry stories on our incredible county, events, places to visit and stay.

“While we rage about our countryside, beaches and myths and legends we cannot get away from the fact that probably our greatest asset in Wales are our castles. They are our history. This most impressive groups of monuments, there are more than 400 – are Wales. They are our most important tourism asset.

“We are blessed in Carmarthenshire to have stunning examples that draw attention from around the world in Carreg Cennen, Laugharne, Carmarthen, Dinefwr and we must not forget Kidwelly or Llandovery, although they have not been part of this Castle and Princes project.

“Our Welsh history imbued in the castles is a treasure trove of information and that is why it is so good to have the children of Teilo Sant CP School at the launch. I am sure they will be inspired by what they have seen that will help them to become more creative and imaginative.”